The department has reportedly sent an official communication to schools to hold meetings with SSA teachers regarding the renewal of their contract. Meanwhile, the department has made it clear that the renewal will “not be a right” but based on various criteria set by the department.

SSA teachers will have to produce hundred per cent results which will be a decisive factor in the contract renewal procedure.

“The teachers’ performance will be of utmost significance. Depending on their results, the department will decide whether they should continue with the services. The rapport shared with students and colleagues, behaviour in general and the principal’s feedback will matter equally,” said Director Public Instructions (Schools) Samwartak Singh. He added that the annual confidential reports will also be taken into account.

Bringing SSA teachers in the mainstream has been on the department’s radar for quite sometime now. Since the department has always passed the buck to the Central government, the issue has had the teachers and the department at loggerheads several times before.

Sources claim that the department is planning to regularise the contractual teachers by forming a policy according to which an SSA teacher, having served for five years, will be eligible for a regular post.