SEPTEMBER 27: The state Cabinet today announced that the salaries of contract teachers would be raised from Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 crore. Contract teachers in primary schools will accordingly be paid a monthly salary of Rs 3,000 while those in secondary schools will be paid Rs 4,000, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said after the weekly Cabinet meeting today.The decision is in accordance with the directions of the Bombay High Court on a petition filed in connection with government's decision to appoint teachers on contract.For contract teachers in higher secondary schools and junior colleges, salaries will be Rs 5,000 (for fully eligible candidates) and Rs 4,000 (partly eligible candidates) per month.The teachers will be employed on a contract basis for three years after which they will be abosorbed in service. Educational institutions will not be allowed to appoint untrained candidates as teachers, but the rules will be relaxed for reserved catagories, Deshmukh said. Further, women teachers appointed on contract will also get maternity leave.The Cabinet also decided to start open schools to impart informal education to child labourers and underprivileged children in the state. The scheme, called the `Mahatma Phule Shikshan Hami Yojna', will be launched in 15 districts in the state from October 2.
