Chennai Part-Time Teachers to Get 15 ‘Experience’ Marks in TRB Exam

The Tamil Nadu government has announced a major relief for part-time teachers working in government schools, stating that they will receive additional 'experience' marks in the Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB) examination. The decision is expected to benefit thousands of instructors seeking regular teaching posts in the state.

According to recent reports, part-time teachers will receive up to 15 marks as weightage for their teaching experience in the TRB examination. This initiative aims to recognise the service rendered by teachers who have been working on a part-time basis for several years in government schools.

Who Will Benefit from the Decision

The move primarily applies to special teachers appointed under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, including instructors for subjects such as:

• Physical Education
• Music
• Drawing
• Sewing

Many of these teachers were recruited around 2011 and have been working on part-time contracts for more than a decade. The additional marks are intended to improve their chances of securing permanent positions through the TRB recruitment process.

Officials estimate that around 9,400 part-time teachers across Tamil Nadu could benefit from this decision.

How the Experience Marks Will Work

The Teachers Recruitment Board exam generally carries 100 marks, with:

• 95 marks for the written examination
• Up to 5 marks based on employment exchange registration seniority

With the new policy, eligible part-time teachers may receive up to 15 additional marks for their work experience, which could raise the total possible weightage to around 20 marks beyond the written test score.

Education officials say the weightage will help experienced instructors compete more effectively with new candidates appearing for the recruitment exam.

Pathway to Regular Government Teaching Jobs

The Tamil Nadu government had earlier indicated that part-time teachers may be regularised through a recruitment examination conducted by TRB, with additional marks awarded for years of service.

If selected through the recruitment process, teachers could transition from part-time roles to permanent government teaching positions, which come with significantly higher salaries and benefits.

Currently, many part-time instructors earn around ₹12,500 per month, while regular government teachers may earn up to ₹35,000 or more depending on the post and pay scale.

Concerns Raised by Teacher Associations

While the announcement has been welcomed by many educators, some teacher groups have raised concerns about delays in conducting TRB recruitment exams, noting that the last major examination was held several years ago. They have also urged the government to extend similar benefits to instructors from other subjects such as computer science and life-skills education.

Despite these concerns, the move is being seen as an important step toward recognising the experience of part-time teachers and improving their chances of securing permanent positions in Tamil Nadu's school education system.