Chennai: The Directorate of Elementary Education has initiated steps to redeploy surplus teachers in government-aided schools, drawing objections from school headmasters.

In a circular issued to district education officers, Director of Elementary Education Naresh said the process of assessing staff strength in government-aided schools is currently under way. Based on the prevailing student-teacher ratio, teacher allocation reports should be prepared and communicated to the schools.

“If surplus teachers are identified, steps should be taken to redeploy them or assign them alternative duties,” the circular stated.

However, headmasters of government-aided schools have opposed the move, pointing out what they describe as unequal implementation of the policy. They said that in government schools, promotions to secondary and graduate headmaster posts have been stalled due to pending court cases, and as a result, surplus teacher redeployment has not been carried out there.

“The same situation exists in government-aided schools as well. Yet, the government has directed that redeployment be implemented immediately only in aided schools,” the headmasters said, urging authorities to adopt a uniform approach.