Patna: The state education department, in an effort to plug teacher vacancies in Plus II schools, has decided to make teachers' appointments on an ad hoc basis in English, mathematics and science subjects.

The state education department has directed respective district education offices to find out the exact number of vacancies of teachers in these three subjects after which appointments will be made.

Once the number of vacancies of teachers in three subjects are available after roster clearance (reservation for different communities), the respective district education offices will issue advertisement for appointments of teachers.

According to education department sources, there are around 4,200 vacant posts of teachers in mathematics, science and English subjects in around 5,000 Plus II schools.

Sources said the maximum vacant posts are in English and physics with around 1,000 vacancies in both the subjects, respectively.

Ashok Kumar, district programme officer, Patna, said: "We have asked respective Plus II schools to provide details about vacancies of teachers in mathematics, science and English subjects. Once we receive the vacancies of teachers we will issue the advertisement for appointments of teachers."

The teachers' appointments have to be done by June 15 and the education department has fixed different eligibility criteria for appointments of teachers.

According to education department sources, candidates in the age group of 21 to 65 years, which includes even retired English and science graduates, can apply for teaching job.

The education department has also made relaxation in educational qualifications for candidates.

Candidates who are MSc, BEd and have qualified in the State Teachers' Eligibility Test (STET) will be given preference.

The second preference will be given to candidates who are MTech and third to BTech and MSc students. The selected candidates will get a daily honorarium of Rs 1,000 with maximum salary of Rs 25,000 per month.

Sources said the education department has made appointment process relaxable so as to get large number of candidates.

Sources said in the previous recruitment process being carried out by the education department based on Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) guidelines in 2016, out of 84 posts for physics teachers, the Patna district education offices received only two applications.

In 2016, the eligibility criteria was MSc and STET passed candidates.

Kumar Anupam, a science postgraduate student, said: "The education department appointment policy at Plus II schools is a welcome step as it will open the doors for many candidates as many science graduates are still jobless due to lack of employment opportunities."