Maharashtra Government to Recruit Contract Teachers for Ashram Schools
Pune, 22nd May 2025: The Tribal Development Department has announced a major decision to recruit teachers on a contract basis for government-run Ashram schools across the state. The department has approved a proposal worth INR 84.74 crore to hire teachers through external agencies, and the tender process will be carried out via the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal.
This decision involves filling 1,791 approved teaching posts in these schools through outsourcing. As per the official government resolution, this move follows a revised administrative structure finalized by the Tribal Development Department on November 16, 2023.
The outsourced positions include:229 Higher Secondary Teachers, 455 Secondary Teachers, 120 Graduate Primary Teachers,178 English Primary Teachers, 809 Marathi Primary Teachers
Despite this, the decision has drawn criticism. Former principal Mahendra Ganpule questioned the rationale behind outsourcing teachers when the state is already conducting regular recruitment through the Pavitra portal, a centralized teacher recruitment system. “What message are we giving to qualified candidates who dream of becoming teachers? It’s surprising that a proposal from 2022 is being approved now—this means these posts have remained vacant for a long time,” he said, also highlighting the inconsistency in the education department’s approach.
According to the Tribal Development Department’s website, the Ashram School Scheme has been operational since 1972-73, aimed at accelerating the economic, educational, and social development of Scheduled Tribes living in remote and hilly areas. These residential schools, set up in difficult terrains, aim to encourage education among tribal children and uplift their standard of living.
Currently, there are 497 government-run Ashram schools and 556 government-aided Ashram schools functioning under the Tribal Development Department. The initiative continues to bring education to remote regions, but the recent move toward contract-based hiring raises concerns about its long-term impact on education quality and teacher stability.
