The Odisha government has regularised the services of 9,200 junior teachers working in primary and upper primary schools under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, a key initiative aimed at ensuring quality education across the state, according to an official statement.

The School and Mass Education Department communicated the decision to the Director of Elementary Education on Saturday. This move is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to improve the education system and recognize the contributions of junior teachers, many of whom have served for years on contractual terms.

As per the teachers’ career advancement policy, junior teachers, known as Sikshya Sahayaks or junior teachers (contractual), have been regularised under Level-V (A) of the elementary teachers cadre after completing six years of continuous, satisfactory service. However, untrained teachers or those who haven’t qualified for the Odisha Teachers’ Eligibility Test (OTET) will not be regularised, maintaining the state’s standards for qualified teaching staff.

In addition to this, on Saturday, the state government also issued appointment letters to 16,009 newly recruited junior teachers in primary and upper primary schools under various government schemes, further strengthening the teaching workforce in the state.

Chief Minister Mohan Majhi handed over some of the appointment letters during a grand ceremony held at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also in attendance. The event marked a significant step in the government’s commitment to enhancing education, improving teacher welfare, and addressing the shortage of qualified educators in Odisha’s school system.

Both Chief Minister Majhi and Minister Pradhan emphasized the importance of quality education in shaping the future of the state’s youth, and they reiterated the government’s pledge to continue supporting the education sector through more reforms and investments.

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