The Assam Higher Education Department has issued a directive prohibiting all provincialised and government colleges from engaging contractual teaching and non-teaching staff against non-existent or unsanctioned posts, with immediate effect from April 25, 2026. The order also instructs colleges to discontinue existing such engagements, a move that has triggered widespread concern across the state’s academic landscape.

This decision is poised to significantly impact hundreds, if not thousands, of contractual employees and could lead to severe academic disruption, particularly in provincialised colleges that heavily rely on such staff. Stakeholders warn of an impending crisis as the new academic session is set to begin in August, with admission processes already underway.

What was announced

The directive, issued by Narayan Konwar, the state Commissioner and Secretary of the Higher Education Department, explicitly bars all provincialised and government colleges from appointing any contractual personnel for both teaching and non-teaching roles where sanctioned posts do not exist.

The official communiqué emphasised that such appointments contravene applicable statutory provisions, rules, and executive instructions. It noted with concern that several colleges had been engaging staff on an ad hoc or contractual basis without prior approval, leading to legal complications as these employees often approached courts seeking regularisation of their services.

To prevent future litigation and ensure adherence to established recruitment norms, the department directed all concerned authorities to immediately refrain from engaging any new contractual staff. Furthermore, colleges currently employing contractual staff are instructed to take necessary steps to discontinue these engagements in accordance with existing rules and contractual terms, ensuring due process is followed. The directive also warned of stringent action against any authority found violating the order.

Why it matters

The policy change is expected to create an acute staffing crisis in Assam’s higher education institutions, particularly in provincialised colleges. These institutions, which account for more than 300 of the state’s 345 degree colleges, have historically relied heavily on contractual teachers and non-teaching staff to manage academic and administrative responsibilities.

The sudden discontinuation of these services, without a parallel plan for regular recruitment, could lead to significant faculty shortages, disruption of classes, delays in academic schedules, and a potential decline in the quality of education. Some institutions have warned that they may be forced to reduce enrolment or even shut down major courses due to the lack of adequate regular faculty.

Thousands of qualified young individuals have been serving in these colleges for years, often on modest or irregular pay, playing a crucial role in sustaining academic activities. Their abrupt disengagement is seen by many as a severe blow to the teaching environment and their livelihoods.

Background

The reliance on contractual staff in Assam’s colleges stems from a long-standing issue of insufficient sanctioned posts and a prolonged freeze on regular faculty recruitment. Reports indicate that new posts have not been created in many provincialised colleges since 1992, despite a significant increase in student enrolment over the decades.

This gap between growing academic requirements and stagnant sanctioned positions forced colleges to engage contractual and ad hoc staff to maintain operations. The practice, while addressing immediate needs, often led to contractual employees seeking regularisation, resulting in legal battles and administrative challenges for the state government.

The current directive is not the first instance of the state government addressing the issue of contractual appointments. In March 2019, the Higher Education Department issued a similar notification banning the recruitment of teachers and non-teaching staff on a part-time and contractual basis in government-aided colleges, which also drew strong protests from teachers’ associations.

In contrast to the current situation in higher education, the Assam government has undertaken initiatives to regularise contractual teachers in primary and secondary schools. In November 2023, Education Minister Ranoj Pegu announced plans to regularise the jobs of nearly 40,000 contractual teachers in government schools, with a target to complete the process by March 2024.

Further, in September 2024, the government regularised the jobs of around 24,000 contractual teachers in primary schools, offering them options to join regular positions, albeit with a reduced pay structure. In June 2024, the Assam Cabinet also decided to launch a special recruitment drive to absorb approximately 35,133 Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) contractual teachers and state pool teachers into regular positions in lower and upper primary schools.

The implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in Assam since 2023 has further intensified pressures on colleges. The four-year undergraduate programme mandates a wider range of courses, including Ability Enhancement, Value Added, Multidisciplinary, and Skill Enhancement courses, requiring more faculty. Critics argue that without adequate permanent faculty, the directive risks undermining the very goals of NEP 2020.

Key details

The directive from the Higher Education Department applies to all provincialised and government colleges across Assam. It prohibits the engagement of both teaching and non-teaching staff against posts that are not sanctioned or do not exist.

The order took effect immediately from April 25, 2026. Colleges are mandated to discontinue existing contractual engagements, following applicable rules and contractual terms, ensuring that due process is observed during the termination. Non-compliance could lead to stringent action against the college authorities.

Reactions

The directive has elicited strong opposition from various stakeholders in the education sector.

The Assam College Teachers’ Association (ACTA), Assam College Principals’ Council (ACPC), Assam College Librarian’s Association (ACLA), and Assam College Employees Association (ACEA) expressed resentment over the instruction.

“The community will suffer if we have to lay off all the contractual teachers and employees. In both higher secondary classes and degree courses, the contractual teachers are playing a major role in the classrooms,” Ranjan Kalita, General Secretary of the Assam College Principals’ Council, told The Times of India. He added that provincialised colleges, which constitute over 300 of the state’s 345 degree colleges, rely heavily on contractual staff.

The All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) Assam State Committee demanded an immediate withdrawal of the directive, warning of a looming academic crisis.

“The decision is arbitrary, inhumane and destructive for the education system,” AICCTU leaders Biren Kalita and Balindra Saikia said. They highlighted that thousands of qualified youths have been serving in colleges for years on meagre pay and that their sudden disengagement would deal a severe blow to the teaching environment.

The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) also strongly opposed the government’s decision, terming it “hasty, short-sighted and inhumane.”

“The state government has failed to provide sufficient and permanent jobs in colleges. The government has also shown little inclination to create new posts as per requirement,” AASU president Utpal Sarma and general secretary Samiran Phukan stated. They warned that the abrupt removal of contractual staff could lead to the closure of several departments and jeopardise students’ academic future.

AASU leaders further alleged that the government has consistently failed to ensure sufficient regular appointments and has shown “extreme indifference” in creating new posts despite growing academic requirements.

What’s next

Stakeholder organisations, including ACTA, ACPC, and AASU, are expected to continue their consultations and engage with senior officials of the Higher Education Department to press for the withdrawal of the directive.

The unions have demanded that the state government first create new permanent posts and fill existing vacancies through proper recruitment processes before dismantling the contractual system. They have hinted at launching protests if the decision is not rolled back, underscoring the growing unease in the higher education sector as colleges grapple with the dual challenge of compliance and maintaining academic continuity.

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