Karnataka to recruit 2.5k computer science teachers for primary schools

Bengaluru: With Computer Science being introduced from class 1 at Karnataka Public Schools, the department of school education and literacy has decided to recruit dedicated computer science teachers.

For the current academic year, the department will recruit 2500 teachers. These posts will be carved out of the 6117 primary school teacher posts available.

A separate cadre for these teachers in the department are being created and an amendment to cadre and recruitment rules is under process for this purpose.

The eligibility criteria for the recruitment of IT teachers will be issued soon, said the department. “We are discussing about it. It could be BSc computer science or any related subjects,” said an official.

It may be recalled that the department has already allowed engineering graduates to teach as Graduate Primary Teachers (class 6 to 8). An amendment was made to recruitment rules in 2021 to allow engineering degree holders to teach subjects like Mathematics and Science in government schools and PU colleges. They could write the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) in the year 2021 .

The IT teachers will be paid Rs 44425 - Rs 83700 as per the rules.

Computer education is being introduced in 200 schools in Kalyan Karnataka region and 500 in other parts of the state this year as a part of upgrading the schools to KPSes. Department officials said that the service of these teachers will be extended to non KPS schools too, depending upon the need.

“Currently there are many schools with sufficient computers available thanks to various donors, but no eligible teachers to train teachers in it. I hope they recruit enough teachers for all schools so that the computers are put to good use,” said a government school teacher.