Aided school staff merger crucial to protect edu system, say stakeholders

The demand to merge the teaching and non-teaching staff of Punjab's government-aided schools into the Punjab Education Department has gained significant momentum, with employee unions and educationists calling it an urgent and essential step to stabilise the state's school system.

After Independence, 508 private schools that had played a key role in strengthening Punjab's education structure were brought under the Delhi grant-in-aid pattern in 1967 by then Chief Minister Sardar Lachhman Singh Gill. Under this system, the government sanctioned 9,468 posts-9,215 permanent and 253 part-time-and agreed to pay 95 per cent of salary expenditure, with the remaining 5 percent to be paid by school managements.

To safeguard employee rights, the government included aided school staff under the Security Act in 1983. Pension benefits were extended from February 5, 1987 and became fully operational in 1992. However, over time, declining support and a near-freeze on recruitment-particularly after the 2003 recruitment ban-have pushed aided school structures into prolonged distress.

According to the Punjab Government Aided Teachers and Other Employees Union, the state government is already obligated to comply with the directions of the Supreme Court of India to fill all vacant posts across educational institutions, whether in government or aided schools. Union representatives said that merging the remaining aided school employees into the Education Department would allow the government to immediately fill vacant posts in government schools without placing any additional financial burden on the state exchequer. This restructuring would help resolve teacher shortages in government institutions while eliminating financial liabilities associated with aided schools.

Sanjeev Kumar, vice-president of the District Hoshiarpur Unit of the Aided Teachers and Employees Union, said that only about 1,700 employees remain under the 95 per cent grant-in-aid system, placing excessive pressure on the existing workforce. Nearly Rs 350 crore currently deposited as the Provident Fund (PF) of aided employees would, post-merger, directly augment the state treasury.

Additionally, around 125 government employees currently supervising administrative functions of aided schools could be reassigned wherever required.

Lecturer Balkar Singh of Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Garhdiwala, said, "We are prohibited from charging any fees other than those of government schools, but government schools are provided several grants to manage various affairs, while aided schools are left on their own without a source of income. Adding to their problems is the ban on recruitments, which has caused acute staff shortages. Several institutions are struggling to maintain academic operations. Integrating aided school staff into the Education Department will immediately strengthen the teaching framework," he said.

Principal Rakesh Sharma of Sai Das Senior Secondary School, Jalandhar, remarked that aided school teachers have delivered consistent service despite limited resources.

Sushil Singh of IDSD Senior Secondary School, Pathankot, emphasized that merging aided school employees into the Education Department would require the government to bear only an additional 5 per cent salary expenditure. "In exchange, the department would gain hundreds of experienced, skilled, and qualified educators who have served Punjab's education sector for decades," he said.

Union leaders and supporting principals stressed that with many government schools experiencing an acute deficit of teachers and some nearing the point of closure, the merger is seen as an essential corrective measure.

They collectively stated that integrating aided school staff into the Education Department is not only administratively viable and financially sound but also crucial for sustaining the quality and continuity of education in Punjab.