The government’s promise to provide golden handshake for temporary teachers who fail the test for permanent posting is going to cost it high, as early trend shows a high rate of failure among the candidates.

Around a half of the teachers who took the test for different subjects at the lower-secondary level have been disqualified, according to the results published by the Teachers Service Commission. Though the commission is yet to come out with the results for the primary and secondary levels, the present trend shows the pass rate for permanent posting will not be higher than 50 percent.

A total of 23,386 temporary teachers had applied for 22,076 permanent positions for the three levels—primary, lower-secondary and secondary. Hardly around 11,000 teachers who took the test will be qualified for permanent posting at the first pass rate. Officials at the Education Ministry say the present trend shows that the number of teachers eligible for golden handshake is going to be higher than anticipated.

“The present pass rate is low although it is quite early to draw a conclusion,” said Bishnu Mishra, deputy spokesperson for the ministry.

Following pressure from temporary teachers, the Legislature-Parliament in September last year amended the Education Act, clearing the deck for announcing internal vacancies for temporary teachers recruited before August 6, 2004.

The teachers have to obtain hardly the pass mark (40 out of the 100 full marks) to be eligible for permanent status. The commission had called vacancies based on the

amendment.

The disqualified temporary teachers will be offered golden handshake in three categories: those with service period of 5-10 years, 10 to 15 years and above 15 years. Temporary teachers in the first category will be entitled to an amount equal to 15 days’ salary for each service year, while those in the second and third categories will be paid one month’s salary and 45 days’ salary, respectively, for each year of their service.

The severance pay would range from around Rs100,000 to Rs1 million depending on the service period of teachers and their level. According to a rough estimate, around Rs7 billion will be required to finance the retirement plan. Mishra said the government hasn’t allocated the budget for the purpose.

“Since the government has made the promise, all those eligible will get the compensation amount,” he said. “As the amount is high the government should take a decision since it is not possible for the Education Ministry to arrange for the huge sum.”

According to Mishra, the temporary teachers, despite failing the test, will continue unless the government arranges for the budget necessary for bidding them goodbye. Tulasi Prasad Thapaliya, chief administrative officer at the commission, said they are preparing to publish all the results soon.