Several contractual teachers employed by Delhi government schools demonstrated in front of the residence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday, renewing their call for a policy that provides them with job security. As reported by the protesting teachers, the idea to re-ignite this long-standing demand arose after Kejriwal participated in a rally by guest teachers in Punjab late last month and vowed that they would be regularised if the AAP was elected to power in that state.
“The people of Punjab have put their trust in different parties in the past,” Kejriwal remarked as he joined contractual teachers in a demonstration outside the Punjab State School Education Board building. I want to assure you that I handled the concerns of teachers in Delhi and that we would address the concerns of teachers in Punjab as well.” In response, Punjab Congress chairman Navjot Singh Sidhu joined the demonstration on Sunday. He tagged Kejriwal on social media and wrote, “Practice what you preach.” He also tagged others.
“We are bringing up the same demand that has been there since 2017,” said Shoaib Rana, who has been working as a guest teacher since 2011. Our goal is to see the 2017 guest teacher regularisation bill put into effect, and we want a policy of “same work, same pay” until that is accomplished. We were promised regularisation seven years ago, and the government has yet to deliver on that promise. However, the government has stated that it will do so in Punjab, which is where we live. “Our message is that they should complete the work here first before making any promises abroad,” said the group.
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According to estimates from the All-India Guest Teachers’ Association, approximately 22,000 guest teachers are employed in Delhi government-run educational institutions. In these schools, there were a total of 66,938 sanctioned teaching positions in the academic year 2020-2021. Over the past seven years, a large number of guest teachers have been employed in government schools. While teacher recruitment has taken place in phases over the last few years, these guest teachers have been advocating for immediate regularisation, citing a lack of job advertisements in comparison to their numbers and unequal competition as justifications.
“A total of 9,500 new teachers will be hired through the DSSSB’s exams, which will be held early next year. According to Govind Singh, who has worked as a guest teacher since 2012, this will result in 9,500 guest teachers being laid off.
