As many as 1,700 aspirants cleared the Sports Aptitude Test (SAT) conducted by the Gujarat Education department. There are over  4500 vacancies for Khel Sahayaks in the state. 

However, out of 4,565 vacant positions, only 1,465 candidates have been included in the merit list, leaving 3,100 positions remaining unfilled. The state government has not provided any clear answer as to when these vacancies will be filled.  

Previously, the state government had announced positions on an 11-month contract basis, and 1,465 candidates accepted these positions. After their contract period ended, they demanded a renewal of their jobs. The protesting candidates in Gandhinagar are now urging the government to make permanent appointments based on the SAT results.  

Physical education teachers in Gujarat have been protesting for the past two days, demanding an end to contractual recruitment and the immediate hiring of permanent physical education teachers. Meanwhile, the government has published the merit list for Khel Sahayak (Primary) recruitment on the recruitment portal on Wednesday. 

According to sources, the candidates who had accepted employment were clearly informed that it was an 11-month contractual position, making them ineligible for permanent appointments.So, the eligible candidates are seeking a structured recruitment process, similar to TET and TAT exams, for the recruitment of Khel Sahayaks to fill the vacant positions.  

What physical education teachers are demanding

–No permanent recruitment of physical education teachers has been done in Gujarat for the past 15 years. There is a need to initiate permanent hiring.  

–Permanent recruitment of physical education teachers currently occurs only at the secondary and higher secondary levels. Even then, the number of hires is much lower than the available vacancies according to the roster system. No recruitment has been conducted for primary schools (Grades 1-8). So, permanent physical education teachers for primary schools are also required.  

- The SAT conducted by the State Examination Board (SEB) should be considered valid for permanent recruitment.  

- At the time of conducting the SAT, the government had declared around 5,075 vacant physical education teacher positions. These positions should now be permanently filled.  

- Since no recruitment has taken place for the last 15 years, a new Government Resolution (GR) and framework should be created, and an official announcement for immediate permanent recruitment should be made.  

All degree-holding physical education teacher candidates, Khel Sahayaks, and aspirants waiting for recruitment are demanding that the government stop contractual recruitment and proceed with permanent hiring.  

Instead of contractual hiring, recruitment should be done based on the provisions of the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009, which have made physical education a mandatory subject.  

Considering this, the Gujarat government, through its Education department, should take independent policy decisions that will help the state produce future athletes and sportspersons who can elevate Gujarat’s name at the national and international levels. 

For the holistic physical and mental development of students, physical education should be recognised as a full-time subject, and the SAT exam should be accepted as a qualification criterion for the permanent recruitment of physical education teachers.