Bhubaneswar: The school and mass education department on Thursday approved a proposal to upgrade the minimum educational qualification for siksha sahayaks (para teachers) from matriculation to Plus Two.

Sources said the proposal for upgrade came from the National Council for Teachers' Education.

The new rule will be effective at entry level. However, working siksha sahayaks, who have passed matriculation with Certificate Training qualification, will not be affected.

Siksha sahayaks and various teachers' organisations that had been demanding upgrading the minimum educational qualification have hailed the move. They had also demanded consequent pay revision and regularisation of service. Recently, the siksha sahayaks staged protests over the demands.

School and mass education minister Badri Narayan Patra met with the agitating para teachers on Monday, following which the agitation was called off.

In another development, the minimum qualification for junior clerks in district and sub-ordinate offices has also been upgraded from Plus Two to graduation.

The Odisha Revenue Clerks' Association had demanded upgrading entry-level qualification for junior clerks with special cadre status.