Chennai: The state govt has created 1,328 new physical education (PE) teacher posts and 297 physical education director grade-II posts for state-run schools.The state has 5,597 high and higher secondary schools—2,864 govt and municipal high schools; and 2,913 higher secondary schools. But there are only 4,571 PE teacher posts, 93 PE director grade-II posts and 406 PE director grade-I posts sanctioned.Last week, the school education department had instructed all schools to compulsorily hold PE lessons for classes VI-XII. PE teachers’ associations welcomed the move, but demanded the recruitment of more teachers. PE teacher posts have not been provided in 9,000 middle schools, they said. S Sankaraperumal, president, Tamil Nadu Physical Education Teachers’ and Physical Directors’ Association said 477 high and higher secondary schools do not have PE teacher posts and a nearly 2,900 posts remain vacant.
