Government amends rules to push PU lecturers to teach high school students, faces stiff resistance

Despite strong opposition, the State government has decided to depute lecturers from government pre-university (PU) colleges to teach classes 9 and 10 in government high schools. The government has amended the Karnataka General Services (Pre-University Education) (Recruitment) Rules-2013, issued a draft notification, and has given seven days for filing objections.

As per the new draft rules, it is mandatory for lecturers appointed to government PU colleges in the State, through direct recruitment and promotion, to teach classes 9 and 10 in government high schools.

This move has been met with stiff resistance from lecturers and principals of government PU colleges, who say they will launch a massive struggle against it.

Move prompted by KPS

Currently, there are separate cadres and recruitment (C and R) rules for the staff of PU and high school education. Candidates who have completed a BEd along with their graduation are recruited for Group C grade posts of high school teachers to teach classes 8 to 10. However, the position of lecturers in PU colleges is classified as Group B posts and only candidates who have completed a BEd along with a postgraduate degree are recruited.

With the establishment of Karnataka Public Schools (KPS) in the State, where classes 1 to 12 will be held under one roof, like in all central syllabus schools, the State government has now sought to amend the rules to allow lecturers currently teaching Pre-University classes to also teach high school students.

This comes in the backdrop of the State deciding to start 800 new Karnataka Public Schools this academic year, taking the total number of KPS to 1,209.

Strong opposition

Speaking to The Hindu, Ninge Gowda A.H., president of the Karnataka State Pre-University Colleges Lecturers’ Association, said there have been such moves prior to this as well, and they have been dropped repeatedly due to opposition. “Moving PU lecturers from Group B posts to Group C posts is against the principles of the Karnataka Civil Services Rules. It will also affect the professional dignity of lecturers,” he argued.

The previous BJP government had tried to bring in similar amendments in 2022, and again in November, 2025. “A State-wide protest was held on November 25, 2025, during which the then School Education Minister assured us that there was no proposal to assign PU lecturers to high schools.

However, now that the department has no Minister, the officials have hastily amended the rules. No expert committee has been formed in this regard as well. Furthermore, none of the stakeholders, including the lecturers’ association and student organisations, have been consulted. Therefore, all staff members will submit objections to this draft,” he said.

The Association plans to boycott all PU classes for a day to register their protest, and if the government doesn’t withdraw the draft, Mr. Ninge Gowda threatened an indefinite boycott and stir.