Assam: CM Himanta urges newly-regularized teachers to serve with unwavering dedication

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma distributed appointment letters to 4,529 Additional (Contractual) Teachers of Secondary Schools of Assam, thereby regularizing their service, in a programme held at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati on Saturday. In the same spirit of academic advancement, 58 Assistant Professors were appointed to various colleges across the state, signifying a momentous step towards strengthening Assam’s educational framework.

Speaking on the occasion, CM Sarma stated, to enhance the quality of education and address the shortage of teachers in secondary schools, additional contractual teachers were appointed in government and provincialized secondary schools in 2010 with a monthly honorarium of Rs 8,000, which was later increased to Rs 15,500 in 2012 and Rs 20,000 in 2018. Effective from July 2020, 5,243 such teachers were approved to receive salaries and benefits on par with regular graduate teachers, with their service tenure extended to 60 years. Similarly, 140 contractual teachers in madrasa institutions were granted the same benefits. Emphasising the state government’s commitment to strengthening Assam’s education system and recognising the dedicated service of these teachers, he urged the newly regularised teachers to serve with unwavering dedication and sincerity in illuminating the academic landscape of the state.

The CM said that with their regularisation, the newly appointed teachers would now be entitled to various government benefits. A plan has been formulated to transit NPS-covered teachers and employees appointed after 2005 into the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) in two phases from April, he added. He urged the newly regularised teachers to enrol under the Mukhya Mantri Lok Sevak Arogya Yojana upon receiving their first salary to avail themselves of medical benefits. He also mentioned that these teachers, based on seniority, would become eligible for positions such as Principal and Vice Principal. Furthermore, they would be able to benefit from schemes like the Apon Ghar Scheme and Apon Bahon Scheme. From 2026 onwards, they would also be eligible for mutual transfer benefits.

It may be noted that in July last year, the Assam Government held a meeting with the Assam Additional (Contractual) Teachers’ Association, leading to proposed amendments in the service rules of government and provincialized schools. These amendments enabled additional contractual teachers to participate in a Special Recruitment Drive, which enabled them to secure regular positions with salaries and benefits equivalent to regular employees. Of the 4,644 eligible teachers, 4,529 registered for regularisation as Graduate Teachers and have now been appointed to vacant positions in various secondary schools, effective 15th February 2025.

Today’s event was attended by Minister of Education etc., Dr. Ranoj Pegu, along with the Secretary of the Department of Higher Education and School Education, Narayan Konwar, Vice Chairman of the Assam State School Education Board, Rukma Gohain Baruah, Director of Higher Education, Nayan Kr. Pathak, Director of Secondary Education, Mamata Hojai, as well as other senior officials and dignitaries, stated a press release.

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