<p>Karnataka has scripted history by selecting three transgenders as teachers at government schools.</p>.<p>The Department of School Education & Literacy on Friday released a provisional selection list of 13,363 candidates who will be recruited as government school teachers. </p>.<p>Suresh Babu, Ravi Kumar YR and Ashwathama have become the first transgenders to make it as teachers in state-run schools. Babu will teach English while Kumar and Ashwathama are for social sciences.</p>.<p>Of the 15,000 posts for which the recruitment process was held, the government had reserved 1 per cent (150 posts) for transgenders. However, only ten transgenders wrote the recruitment exam, which the three cleared. </p>.<p>"It was my passion to become a teacher since childhood," Babu, who wanted to be identified as Pavithra, told <em>DH</em>. "I had no godfather or guide. I struggled on my own to reach this stage," said Pavithra, the 44-year-old who has BA and B.Ed degrees along with a diploma in computer science. </p>.<p>"I attended many interviews at private schools. I got rejected because I'm a transgender," she said, thanking the government for "helping me fulfill my dream". She fondly remembered her elementary school teacher named Komala. "She was my role model."</p>.<p>Pavithra said she is looking forward to the government school classroom. "I don't think it would be difficult for me to win over children. I have experience in private tutorials where I taught kids in my neighbourhood," she said.</p>.<p>While the department wanted to fill up 15,000 posts, 13,363 candidates have been selected. The provisional list is open for objections that can be submitted before November 23. </p>.<p>The 13,363 teachers will be deputed at 'C' category places, which are basically villages, to teach grades 6-8.</p>.<p>Releasing the provisional list, School Education & Literacy Minister B C Nagesh said that the government would take measures to fill up the remaining vacancies in the next round of recruitment. </p>.<p>Also, 19 engineering graduates have been selected. This was the first time the department allowed engineering graduates to appear for the Common Entrance Test for selection of teachers.</p>.<p>A total of 1.16 lakh candidates applied for the recruitment. The exam held in May was written by 68,849 candidates of whom 51,098 became eligible. </p>
<p>Karnataka has scripted history by selecting three transgenders as teachers at government schools.</p>.<p>The Department of School Education & Literacy on Friday released a provisional selection list of 13,363 candidates who will be recruited as government school teachers. </p>.<p>Suresh Babu, Ravi Kumar YR and Ashwathama have become the first transgenders to make it as teachers in state-run schools. Babu will teach English while Kumar and Ashwathama are for social sciences.</p>.<p>Of the 15,000 posts for which the recruitment process was held, the government had reserved 1 per cent (150 posts) for transgenders. However, only ten transgenders wrote the recruitment exam, which the three cleared. </p>.<p>"It was my passion to become a teacher since childhood," Babu, who wanted to be identified as Pavithra, told <em>DH</em>. "I had no godfather or guide. I struggled on my own to reach this stage," said Pavithra, the 44-year-old who has BA and B.Ed degrees along with a diploma in computer science. </p>.<p>"I attended many interviews at private schools. I got rejected because I'm a transgender," she said, thanking the government for "helping me fulfill my dream". She fondly remembered her elementary school teacher named Komala. "She was my role model."</p>.<p>Pavithra said she is looking forward to the government school classroom. "I don't think it would be difficult for me to win over children. I have experience in private tutorials where I taught kids in my neighbourhood," she said.</p>.<p>While the department wanted to fill up 15,000 posts, 13,363 candidates have been selected. The provisional list is open for objections that can be submitted before November 23. </p>.<p>The 13,363 teachers will be deputed at 'C' category places, which are basically villages, to teach grades 6-8.</p>.<p>Releasing the provisional list, School Education & Literacy Minister B C Nagesh said that the government would take measures to fill up the remaining vacancies in the next round of recruitment. </p>.<p>Also, 19 engineering graduates have been selected. This was the first time the department allowed engineering graduates to appear for the Common Entrance Test for selection of teachers.</p>.<p>A total of 1.16 lakh candidates applied for the recruitment. The exam held in May was written by 68,849 candidates of whom 51,098 became eligible. </p>