Keralam Cabinet move to extend validity of PSC rank list evokes mixed response

The PSC office in Thiruvananthapuram (file | Photo Credit: The Hindu The Keralam Cabinet decision to extend the validity of 18 Public Service Commission (PSC) rank lists for the appointment of teachers to government schools by six months has evoked mixed reactions, with the rank-holders welcoming it and the Left-affiliated teachers’ organisations criticising it.Pre-primary to higher secondary teacher rank lists that were set to expire in September, October and November this year will be extended.Swathi G., a high school teacher English rank holder from Ernakulam, said she saw the decision as a compassionate and encouraging step towards protecting the opportunities of candidates affected by administrative delays. “The UDF government’s approach has brought renewed confidence among rank holders, particularly after the prolonged uncertainty under the previous government.”For HST English candidates, the most crucial step now was the sanctioning of additional posts following staff fixation.She pointed out that it had been five years since the High Court directive to create a cadre of high school English teachers. However, the prolonged delay in taking the necessary administrative steps had pushed many of them into despair. “The change in government has brought fresh momentum to the process.”Aided managements, she said, had already been permitted to appoint teachers against temporarily created additional posts. “We now urge the government to take the process to its logical conclusion by sanctioning the corresponding additional posts in government schools without further delay. This will open the way for permanent appointments through the PSC and ensure that the extended rank-list validity results in actual opportunities for deserving candidates.”The Kerala Pradesh School Teachers’ Association too welcomed the move. Its general secretary B. Sunil Kumar said the decision would bring relief and hope to rank holders waiting for employment. These rank-lists that were extended were about to complete three years. The PSC would now be able to extend the rank-lists by six month without any hurdles, Mr. Sunil Kumar said.Betrayal of candidates: KSTAThe Kerala School Teachers’ Association (KSTA), however, condemned the decision calling it “a betrayal” of candidates. The government well knew that new posts would not be sanctioned in the middle of the academic year, KSTA general secretary TKA Shafi said. He demanded that the teacher-student ratio be reduced to create new posts and make appointments. Even the previous UDF government had extended the validity of the rank lists a number of times, but only a few appointments were made, Mr. Shafi said.The All Kerala School Teachers’ Union (AKSTU) too alleged that the government was trying to hoodwink job aspirants. According to the sixth day headcount in schools, there was a significant fall in teacher posts in government schools. The rank lists were being extended for posts that did not exist. This was a violation of the promise made to rank holders, AKSTU general secretary O.K. Jayakrishnan said.If the government were sincere, it should reduce the teacher-student ratio. Merely extending the rank lists would not lead to post creation in the current situation, Mr. Jayakrishnan said. Published - September 03, 2026 11:10 am IST