Ludhiana: 10 Years On, Meritorious School Teachers Await Regular Jobs

Highly Qualified Teachers Continue on Temporary Contracts

Even after serving for over ten years, teachers working in Punjab’s meritorious schools are still waiting for the regularisation of their jobs. Many of these educators are PhD holders and NET-qualified professionals, yet they continue to work without salary hikes, allowances, or even basic workplace facilities.

Years of Service, Protests, and Unfulfilled Promises

Despite their long-standing dedication, repeated protests, and multiple meetings with government officials, the teachers say there has been no concrete action toward regularising their employment. Their prolonged struggle sharply contrasts with the exceptional academic achievements of their students in national-level competitive examinations.

Teachers Speak Out on Their Struggle

We have been waiting for regularisation for more than a decade, said Lakhvir Singh, a teacher at Ludhiana’s Meritorious School. During protests, he carries a paper-made green pen, symbolising the government’s promise to regularise their services — a promise that remains unfulfilled.

The impact of these teachers is evident in student results. This year:

Out of 189 government school students who cleared JEE Mains, 131 belonged to nine meritorious schools

21 students qualified JEE Advanced

213 students cleared NEET

37 Class 12 students secured positions on the merit list

In the previous year, 243 students cracked NEET, and over 2,000 students scored above 90% in Class 12 board examinations from these schools.

Promises of Regularisation Still Pending

Despite these achievements, teachers continue to work on temporary appointments. Teena, state president of the Meritorious Teachers’ Union, stated that educators were assured regularisation alongside non-teaching staff under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, but no progress has been made so far.

Policy Under Preparation, Say Officials

Some hope emerged after a meeting held on October 1 with the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Chief Minister, where teachers were informed that the Director General of School Education (DGSE) is in the process of framing a regularisation policy.

Earlier Assurances Offer Little Relief

Earlier, former DGSE Vinay Bublani had also indicated that the matter was under review and that a committee was being formed. Additionally, Amandeep Kaur, Project Director of the Meritorious Society, confirmed that the file related to the teachers’ regularisation is still under consideration.

Uncertain Future for Dedicated Educators

While students from meritorious schools continue to bring laurels through exceptional academic performance, the teachers behind these successes remain in a state of uncertainty, waiting for job security and formal recognition of their long years of service.