Guest Teachers in Schools in India
Para-Teachers’ Agitations in India: Recent Terminations in Uttar Pradesh and Other States (2025)
Abstract
Para-teachers, employed on temporary contracts to address teacher shortages in India’s public education system, face persistent challenges, including low pay, lack of job security, and irregular recruitment processes. In 2025, agitations by para-teachers, particularly Shiksha Mitras in Uttar Pradesh, have intensified due to the state government’s decision to terminate 69,000 assistant teachers who failed to meet qualification requirements. Similar protests have emerged in West Bengal and Tripura, driven by judicial interventions and policy shifts. This article examines the causes, socio-political implications, and systemic issues underlying these agitations, emphasizing the recent terminations in Uttar Pradesh. It concludes with recommendations for policymakers to ensure educational equity and stability.
Introduction
Para-teachers, also known as Shiksha Mitras, Gurujis, or contractual teachers, play a pivotal role in addressing teacher shortages in India, particularly in rural areas under initiatives like the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). Despite their contributions, their precarious employment conditions—low wages, limited benefits, and lack of job security—have fueled widespread discontent. In Uttar Pradesh, the announcement in 2025 to terminate 69,000 assistant teachers who did not complete required qualifications by December 2018 has sparked significant unrest. Similar developments in West Bengal and Tripura, where thousands of teachers faced termination due to recruitment irregularities, have further escalated agitations. This article analyzes the context, causes, and implications of these protests, focusing on the socio-political ramifications and systemic challenges within India’s education sector.
Context and Causes of Para-Teachers’ Agitations
Para-teachers were introduced in the early 2000s under the SSA to meet the demand for educators in underserved regions. While this initiative expanded access to education, it created a cadre of underpaid, undertrained teachers with uncertain job tenure. The key grievances driving their agitations include:
Job Regularization
Para-teachers, particularly Shiksha Mitras in Uttar Pradesh, have consistently demanded regularization as permanent teachers, citing their long service and contributions. Efforts to regularize their services, such as during the Samajwadi Party’s tenure (2012–2017), were struck down by the Supreme Court in 2017 for bypassing mandatory qualifications like the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET). This ruling reverted many Shiksha Mitras to contractual status, slashing their salaries from INR 39,000 to INR 10,000 per month.
Policy Changes and Digital Reforms
In July 2024, the Uttar Pradesh government introduced a mandatory digital attendance system for teachers, requiring real-time attendance marking between 7:45 AM and 8:00 AM. Teachers protested, citing poor internet connectivity in rural areas and logistical challenges, such as long commutes and delayed public transport. The policy faced significant resistance, with only 2% of the 6.09 lakh teachers and para-teachers complying on the first day. Opposition parties, including the Congress and Samajwadi Party, criticized the policy as impractical, leading to its temporary suspension.
Recruitment Irregularities
The recruitment of 69,000 assistant teachers in Uttar Pradesh, initiated in 2019, has been contentious due to alleged irregularities in implementing reservation policies for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). Candidates from reserved categories claimed underrepresentation, prompting legal challenges and protests. In August 2024, the Allahabad High Court annulled the merit lists issued in 2020 and 2022, ordering a revised selection process within three months.
Terminations and Judicial Interventions
Judicial rulings have significantly impacted para-teachers. In Uttar Pradesh, the Supreme Court’s 2017 decision and the Allahabad High Court’s 2024 ruling have created uncertainty for 1.78 lakh Shiksha Mitras. In West Bengal, the Supreme Court’s April 2024 verdict canceled the appointments of 26,000 teachers due to irregularities in the 2016 School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment process, sparking protests outside Bikash Bhawan. Similarly, in Tripura, the termination of 10,323 teachers, upheld by the Supreme Court, has led to indefinite protests supported by opposition parties.
Recent Terminations in Uttar Pradesh and Other States
Uttar Pradesh: The 69,000 Teacher Termination Controversy
In May 2025, the Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Department announced plans to terminate 69,000 assistant teachers who failed to complete qualifications like the Basic Training Certificate (BTC) or Diploma in Elementary Education (DL.Ed) by December 22, 2018, as mandated by the 2019 recruitment rules. This decision followed the Allahabad High Court’s August 2024 order to cancel the merit list for the 69,000 assistant teacher recruitment due to reservation irregularities. The announcement has triggered widespread protests, with teachers and para-teachers alleging betrayal by the state government, particularly as many have served for over a decade under temporary arrangements. The issue has reignited demands for regularization and highlighted systemic failures in teacher training infrastructure.
West Bengal: Cancellation of 26,000 Appointments
In West Bengal, the Supreme Court’s April 2024 ruling declared the 2016 SSC recruitment process “vitiated and tainted,” resulting in the termination of 25,753 teaching and non-teaching staff. Affected teachers, claiming to be “untainted” by the irregularities, have protested for reinstatement and the release of a revised recruitment list. The West Bengal government has been given until December 2025 to complete a fresh selection process, but the uncertainty has fueled ongoing demonstrations.
Tripura: Termination of 10,323 Teachers
In Tripura, the termination of 10,323 government teachers, upheld by the Tripura High Court and the Supreme Court, has led to prolonged protests. Teachers have demanded reinstatement, arguing that their years of service warrant regularization. Opposition parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, have supported the protests, adding a political dimension to the agitation.
Socio-Political Implications
The agitations by para-teachers have far-reaching socio-political consequences. In Uttar Pradesh, the “69,000 teachers” issue has become a significant electoral concern, influencing outcomes in the 2022 and 2024 elections. Reserved category candidates, particularly from Dalit and OBC communities, have accused the government of discriminatory practices, amplifying protests and gaining support from opposition parties like the Congress and Samajwadi Party. Leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav have labeled the recruitment process a “scam,” accusing the BJP-led government of undermining social justice.
The protests have disrupted the education system, with teachers prioritizing demonstrations over classroom duties. For instance, the low compliance rate (2%) with the digital attendance system in July 2024 reflects the scale of resistance. The government’s response—suspending the digital attendance policy and promising review committees—indicates an attempt to mitigate political fallout, but the lack of clear timelines for resolving recruitment disputes continues to fuel unrest.
Moreover, the agitations highlight systemic issues, including inadequate teacher training infrastructure, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and the tension between contractual and permanent employment models. The reliance on para-teachers, while cost-effective, compromises educational quality, as many lack formal qualifications. The discontinuation of scholarships for marginalized groups and the digital divide exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbate inequities in education access.
Concluding Observations
The agitations by para-teachers in India reflect deep-rooted challenges in the education sector, including precarious employment, policy inconsistencies, and judicial interventions. The recent decision to terminate 69,000 assistant teachers in Uttar Pradesh, coupled with similar developments in West Bengal and Tripura, underscores the urgency of addressing para-teachers’ demands for job security and equitable treatment. These protests are not merely about livelihoods but also about the quality and equity of education delivery in India. Policymakers must balance judicial mandates, administrative reforms, and teachers’ rights to prevent further disruptions. Sustainable models for integrating para-teachers into the formal education system, such as structured training programs and transparent recruitment processes, are essential. Future research should explore the socio-political dynamics of these reforms and their impact on educational outcomes.
References
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- Times of India. (2017, July 25). Shiksha Mitras: Supreme Court quashes appointment of 1.78 lakh teachers in UP junior schools. timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
- The Indian Express. (2024, August 20). Why the selection of 69,000 assistant teachers in Uttar Pradesh has been ordered afresh. indianexpress.com.
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