7. Contract Teachers and the Regularisation Debate

Background Contract teachers constitute nearly 16% of India’s school workforce, forming a critical pillar of public education delivery. Key Issues • Widespread protests demanding job security and equal pay for equal work. • Many government schools are structurally dependent on contractual staff. • Courts in several cases have intervened in favour of regularisation, citing fairness and continuity. Value Addition (Policy Perspective) • Contractual hiring helps States reduce fiscal burden and meet teacher shortages. • However, low morale, lack of training continuity, and job insecurity adversely affect learning outcomes. • Reflects deeper structural gaps in education financing and planning. Constitutional & Legal Framework • Article 21A: Right to Education. • Evolving labour rights jurisprudence on equal pay and dignity of work. Key Definition • Contractual Employment: Employment without permanent service benefits or long-term security. Conclusion Sustainable education reform requires a stable, motivated, and fairly treated teaching workforce, balancing fiscal prudence with quality imperatives. UPSC Relevance: GS Paper II – Education, social sector policies