Countries where high school heads may be gazetted officers:
- India: In India, the head of a government or government-aided high school is often a gazetted officer. The gazetted officers in India are classified into different levels based on their responsibilities and seniority, and the head of a high school may fall under the category of Group B or Group C gazetted officer.
- Pakistan: In Pakistan, the principal of a government high school is typically a gazetted officer, falling under the Provincial Management Service (PMS) or District Management Group (DMG).
- Sri Lanka: In Sri Lanka, the principal of a national school is a gazetted officer. National schools are government-run educational institutions in Sri Lanka.
- Bangladesh: In Bangladesh, the headmaster or principal of a government high school is usually a gazetted officer, falling under the Education Cadre.
In these countries, being a gazetted officer means that the head of a high school holds a position recognized by the government and enjoys certain privileges, status, and responsibilities associated with that designation.
Countries where high school heads may not be gazetted officers:
- United States: In the United States, the head of a high school, commonly referred to as the principal, is typically not a gazetted officer. The principal is an educational leader responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the school but does not hold a formal government designation as a gazetted officer.
- United Kingdom: In the United Kingdom, the headteacher of a state-funded school is not typically a gazetted officer. The headteacher's role is focused on the educational aspect of the school, and they do not hold an official gazetted officer status.
- Australia: In Australia, the principal of a government high school is an educational leader but is not considered a gazetted officer. The term "gazetted officer" is generally reserved for certain government positions related to law enforcement, administration, and other specific roles.
It's important to note that the status of a high school head as a gazetted officer can vary not only between countries but also within different regions or states within a country, depending on the local educational regulations and policies.