Odisha Approves 5,740 Retired Teachers as Guest Teachers for 2026-27

Bhubaneswar: With teacher vacancies continuing to pose a challenge in secondary schools, the Odisha government has cleared the engagement of 5,740 retired teachers as Guest Teachers for the 2026–27 academic session to ensure that students do not face disruption in regular teaching.

The School and Mass Education Department has approved the continuation of the Guest Teacher Scheme in government, fully aided and block grant high schools, besides Sanskrit TOL schools. The retired teachers will remain engaged until regular teachers are appointed and join the schools.

The move is intended to provide an immediate solution to staffing gaps while the process of regular teacher recruitment and deployment continues across the state.

Engagement linked to existing vacancies

As per the government order, Guest Teachers can be engaged only against vacancies identified by the Directorate of Secondary Education. District Education Officers (DEOs) will have to obtain approval from the respective District Collectors before making the appointments.

Their engagement will continue until the joining of regularly appointed teachers or the end of the 2026–27 academic session, whichever comes first.

The decision was communicated by Additional Secretary Girish Chandra Singh to the Director of Secondary Education following a proposal processed through the Odisha Secretariat Workflow Automation System (OSWAS).

Retired teachers may be shifted to other schools

The government has directed that Guest Teachers must be relieved from schools as soon as newly recruited Trained Graduate Teachers (TGTs) join there.

However, experienced retired teachers who are relieved may be considered for engagement in other schools where teacher vacancies persist. This provision will allow the state to utilise their teaching experience while addressing shortages in other institutions.

Provision for Sanskrit TOL schools

Retired I.A.CT. and Matric-CT teachers from Sanskrit TOL institutions have also been made eligible for engagement as Guest Teachers in Sanskrit TOL schools, subject to the prescribed norms.

The implementation of the scheme will continue to follow the School and Mass Education Department’s August 17, 2016 resolution, along with amendments and clarifications issued subsequently in 2018.

Finance Department clears proposal

The expenditure towards the Guest Teacher Scheme will be met from the approved Administrative Expenditure (EOM) budget. The Finance Department has already given its concurrence to the proposal.

The Director of Secondary Education has been directed to monitor the implementation and submit periodic progress reports to the government.

The latest decision is expected to provide additional teaching support to schools facing vacancies and help maintain academic continuity during the 2026–27 session.