Counsellors Underpaid Amidst School Mental Health Push

Chandigarh's administration is rolling out "Project SAATHI," a pilot intervention to address student mental health, coinciding with CBSE's Jan 2026 revision mandating full-time school counsellors. This initiative brings renewed scrutiny to the employment conditions of 90 counsellors in government schools.

Currently, these counsellors are engaged via outsourcing agencies and are paid for only 10 months annually, receiving no wages during breaks. This arrangement conflicts with CBSE's full-time requirement and has led to concerns from the Chandigarh Teachers Association.

An official communication from the Directorate of School Education in Oct 2025 stated that outsourced employees are not entitled to vacation pay, citing contractual provisions. The tender documents for engaging counsellors place responsibility on the service provider for wages and labor law compliance, yet schools and the education department oversee daily operations and performance.

Counsellors report operational ambiguities, including a lack of formal contracts, with extensions communicated via messages. Some also mention being assigned teaching duties when schools require. Payment delays are common, with salaries often disbursed after the 20th of the month, contrary to tender conditions.

Past issues with outsourcing agencies defaulting on EPF deposits highlight recurring problems affecting continuity and trust. Legal advisors emphasize that binding CBSE norms, not contractual clauses, should govern full-time counsellor appointments, underscoring a critical need to align program design with employment practices for effective mental health support.