The protest by special educators in Punjab, demanding the regularisation of their jobs, has reached a critical milestone, entering its 127th consecutive day. The agitation, led by the Special Educators’ Union, intensified with a sit-in at the Punjab Education Department building in Mohali's Phase 8.
Decades of Service, No Job Security
The core of the dispute lies in the employment status of these educators. For 18 to 20 years, they have worked under the Inclusive Education for Disabled (IED) component of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, providing crucial education to children with special needs. Despite their long and uninterrupted service, they remain contractual employees.
"We have devoted our entire careers to special children," stated Varinder Vohra, the state convener of the union. "Yet the government is now recruiting fresh candidates on regular posts and placing them senior to us. This is not just unfair, but humiliating too."
New Recruitment Notice Sparks Fresh Anger
The immediate trigger for the renewed protest was a public notice issued by the Punjab government announcing the regular recruitment of special educators from January 1, 2026. The union argues that this move will grant new recruits regular status and seniority, while existing veterans continue on insecure contracts.
Vohra highlighted the absurdity faced by senior teachers: "A teacher, who is 50 years old, with barely seven to eight years of service left, is being told that someone recruited tomorrow will become his senior. This is nothing short of a cruel joke."
Failed Dialogues and Alleged Discrimination
The educators claim their efforts for a resolution have hit a wall. Union members report holding over 200 meetings with a Cabinet sub-committee formed for contractual employees, chaired by the Finance Minister. However, these discussions yielded no concrete results, with only unmet assurances and deadlines.
Furthermore, the union alleges "discriminatory treatment" by the education department. They point out that teaching cadre employees were regularised in 2018 without conditions, and non-teaching staff were regularised in 2025. "We are labelled as teachers at one point and non-teachers at another, but denied the benefits of either category," the union representatives said.
In a dramatic escalation, a group of protesters has been camping on the seventh floor of the education department building since December 26, vowing not to leave until written orders assuring their regularisation are issued. The union has warned of further intensifying their agitation if the state government fails to address their legitimate demands, setting the stage for a prolonged standoff.
