PANJIM: The Directorate of Education (DoE) has asked the schools to re-employ the teachers, retiring during the second-term of the academic year till the completion of the school term so that the superannuation does not affect teaching in the school.

While the new Academic term 2020-21 has commenced, the schools are yet to open in the State in view of rising COVID cases.

The DoE has amended Rule 88 (1) of the Goa School Education Rules, 1986, which allows a teacher attaining the age of retirement on or after the first day of November, during the academic year to be granted re-employment till the completion of the academic term.

At present, the teachers attaining the age of retirement in August, are granted re-employment.

A circular in this regard has been issued to heads of government, government-aided, unaided primary, middle, secondary and higher secondary and special schools in the State.

In the circular, DoE Director Vandana Rao has said the teacher, attaining the age of retirement on or after the first day of November, shall be re-employed till April 30; if the teacher so desires and the managing committee is of the opinion that the teacher is fit for such re-employment and has no mental or physical incapacity, which would disentitle him or her to get such re-employment.

Sources said in 2013, the rules were amended and the benefit was provided to teachers retiring in August, as against the previous rule of November.

“We have now gone back to the old rule and hence those teachers attaining superannuation in November will be re-employed for the entire term, based on the demand. These are just draft rules,” he said.

Sources added that the decision has been taken to ensure that retirement does not affect the curriculum in the school.