The Chandigarh education department has issued a warning to its employees, instructing them not to share office-related information with the media, as the city's government schools continue to grapple with stalled contracts for mental health counsellors and vocational teachers. The directive, communicated on June 11 by Samagra Shiksha Chandigarh to school principals and branch heads, states that such communication adversely affects the department's reputation and image.
Order Details
The memo explicitly directs employees to refrain from sharing official information, documents, communications, or office-related matters with the media, social media platforms, or any unauthorised person without prior approval from the competent authority. It warns that any violation of these instructions will result in disciplinary action under applicable rules and regulations. The order notes that the department has observed certain officials sharing information and making statements to the press or social media without proper authorisation, which it considers a violation of established norms that harms the office's reputation.
Context of Staffing Issues
This directive comes at a time when contractual vocational teachers and mental health counsellors in Chandigarh government schools face prolonged uncertainty. Government schools reopened for the new academic session on April 1, but contractual vocational teachers did not receive timely contract renewals, disrupting classes in skill-based subjects across all schools. With summer vacation already underway, no formal public announcement regarding long-term staffing arrangements has been made.
The delay is significant because vocational education has become a key component of school education under the Central Board of Secondary Education's framework and the National Education Policy. Schools are encouraged to strengthen skill-based learning through vocational subjects such as information technology, artificial intelligence, retail, beauty and wellness, healthcare, and employability skills. However, due to contractual uncertainties, several schools reportedly went without regular vocational classes for much of the academic session before the summer break. Teachers have raised concerns that students are being affected at a time when vocational learning is no longer considered optional.
Mental Health Counsellor Uncertainty
The uncertainty also extends to mental health counsellors working in government schools. This issue raises questions as student well-being and emotional support have become central to school education discourse. Education boards and policymakers have repeatedly stressed the need for counselling support in schools, particularly amid concerns over exam pressure, anxiety, and adolescent mental health. Despite schools highlighting student wellness initiatives, uncertainty over counsellors' contractual arrangements has persisted, drawing criticism from staff and education observers who argue that mental health support cannot remain effective without continuity in personnel.
Expected Scrutiny
Against this backdrop, the fresh communication cautioning employees against speaking to the media is likely to invite scrutiny, especially as unresolved staffing concerns in government schools have increasingly entered public discussion in recent months.
Box: Key Points from the Order
The order states: 'The office has observed that some officials/employees are sharing information and making statements pertaining to the office with the press/social media without proper authorisation.' It warns that 'no official/employee shall share any official information, documents, communications or office-related matters with media/social media or any unauthorised person without prior approval of the competent authority,' and that any violation 'shall invite disciplinary action under the applicable rules and regulations.'
Box: Contractual Staff Issues
Vocational Teachers
Government schools reopened on April 1, but contractual vocational teachers engaged under Samagra Shiksha did not receive timely renewals, affecting classes in skill subjects such as IT, AI, retail, healthcare, and beauty and wellness. While officials have informally indicated that contracts may be revived from July after schools reopen, no formal order had been issued as of now. The delay is significant because CBSE and the National Education Policy place vocational education within mainstream schooling at secondary and senior secondary levels.
Mental Health Counsellors
Contractual uncertainty has also persisted for mental health counsellors despite CBSE affiliation bye-laws requiring schools to provide counselling support to students. In Chandigarh, UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria has publicly pushed student well-being through initiatives including Project SAATHI, launched to strengthen mental health support, emotional well-being, and peer engagement in schools. Yet, no formal clarity on counsellors' continuation had been issued before the summer break.
