Panaji: The state cabinet on Wednesday approved amendments to the Goa (Regulation of Service Conditions of the Helpers working in Pre-Primary School) Scheme, 2024, providing higher remuneration and a fixed retirement age for helpers in govt pre-primary schools.Goa introduced a pre-primary education scheme in 1983-84 under a central programme. Initially, 100 pre-primary schools were opened and attached to govt primary schools. Each school had one teacher and one helper, engaged locally on daily wages for 10 months from June to March, with a two-month break in April and May.Over time, enrolment declined and the scheme was phased out. Qualified pre-primary teachers were promoted as govt primary teachers, while helpers continued to manage the pre-primary sections. The govt later framed a scheme to regulate the service conditions of these daily-wage helpers. At present, 42 helpers work in govt pre-primary schools, earning about Rs 8,380 per month. Under the amendment, remuneration will increase to around Rs 10,540 per month. Helpers will retire at 60 and work from 7am to 3pm on weekdays.
