School Education Department authorities noticed that studies were affected for large number of students in government schools across the State after their teacher went on maternity leave.

Tamil Nadu government, in its June 2018, order has enhanced the maternity leave from 180 days to 270 days to married woman government servants including teachers with less than two surviving children.

Many district educational officers have recently reported that if a teacher goes on maternity leave for 270 days, it was difficult for the management to fill the vacancy as it involves several protocol.

“In addition, though temporary arrangements were made by the school management, students literally suffer without regular teacher for nine months,” a senior official from Education Department said on Friday.

The official said that the order was already given to authorities to find out the number of vacancies that exists in all government schools due to maternity leave of the teachers.

“Candidates especially females, who completed Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) and waiting for job opportunity, will be given priority for the appointment in the vacancy position,” the official added.

According to him, the candidate, who will be placed in the vacancy for 270 days, will also be given extra valuation at the time of interview for permanent teacher’s post in government schools.

“Salary will be fixed for the temporary between Rs 7,000 and Rs 10,000 per month depending upon the standard they teach,” the official said and added that the education department was responsible for paying salary to the replacement teacher after verifying the application submitted by the school.

“The appointment will be done immediately so that the temporary teacher will have the opportunity to work for at least eight months before the original teacher is back on job,” he added.