Governing body of MPO instt gets back power 

The government has reinstated the authority of governing bodies to recruit non-teaching staff at private MPO-enlisted educational institutions, scrapping the district committee system introduced last year. The move, however, has revived concerns over transparency and accountability, as previous recruitment processes under governing bodies had been criticised for alleged irregularities, nepotism and financial misconduct.

The Secondary and Higher Education Division under the Ministry of Education issued a circular on Tuesday cancelling its September 28, 2025 directive, which had assigned recruitment responsibilities to committees headed by Deputy Commissioners (DCs). The circular also reinstated the relevant provisions of the recruitment guidelines issued on January 10, 2024.

As a result, governing bodies will once again oversee appointments to MPO-approved non-teaching posts, except for the positions of principal, vice-principal, headmaster and assistant headmaster.

The restored system applies to posts including trade assistant, office assistant-cum-computer operator, office assistant-cum-accounts assistant, computer laboratory operator, laboratory or research assistant, security guard, cleaner, night guard, aya and office support staff.

Assistant teachers at private MPO institutions have long been recruited through recommendations made by the Non-Government Teachers' Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA). More recently, the government also decided to bring the recruitment of principals, vice-principals, headmasters and assistant headmasters under the NTRCA, and recruitment examinations for those posts have already been conducted.

In September last year, the government withdrew the recruitment authority for non-teaching staff from governing bodies following widespread allegations of favouritism, corruption and monetary transactions in appointments. Under that arrangement, DC-led committees were responsible for conducting examinations, evaluating candidates and recommending appointments, while members of governing bodies were excluded from the process.

With the latest circular, that mechanism has been abolished and the previous recruitment system restored.

The decision has prompted fresh debate among education stakeholders, who say the government must now ensure effective oversight and accountability to prevent a recurrence of the irregularities that had originally led to the withdrawal of recruitment powers from governing bodies.