Thu Apr 03 14:52:22 UTC 2025: **Puducherry Contract Teachers Protest for Job Regularization**
PUDUCHERRY, April 3, 2025 – Contract teachers in Puducherry are staging a protest, demanding the regularization of their jobs as promised by the government. Around 288 teachers, including lecturers, trained graduate teachers, primary school teachers, and Balasevika teachers, appointed in 2021, have had their contracts terminated after five years of service.
The teachers, who were appointed through direct recruitment, claim that despite an Assembly announcement by the Education Minister guaranteeing permanent positions, no action has been taken. Their contracts were renewed annually until last month when they were unexpectedly terminated, leaving the teachers and their families in a precarious situation.
The protest has garnered support from opposition parties, with DMK leader and Leader of Opposition R. Siva and AIADMK secretary A. Anbalagan both expressing solidarity. Mr. Siva pledged to raise the issue with the government, while Mr. Anbalagan criticized the government’s inaction and warned of potential negative impacts on the quality of education in government schools. He urged the Chief Minister and Education Minister to meet the Lieutenant Governor to swiftly resolve the situation and issue a government order to regularize the teachers’ positions.
First Piper 