Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has approved a 120 per cent increase in the salaries of teachers working in the state’s Adarsh Schools, raising their monthly pay from around Rs 10,000 to more than Rs 22,000. The decision, announced ahead of the state’s next Assembly election, is expected to benefit around 1,100 teachers. The government described the move as an effort to provide better pay, dignity and recognition to teachers working in the education system.

Mann approved the increase during a meeting with a delegation representing Adarsh School teachers. According to an official release, the Chief Minister maintained that teachers play a central role in shaping Punjab’s future and that improving their working conditions was necessary to strengthen education. He also criticised successive governments for what he described as years of neglect of the teaching community, particularly teachers who had continued working despite receiving relatively low salaries.

The Chief Minister pointed to the long period during which Adarsh School teachers had served on salaries of around Rs 10,000 per month. With the latest decision, their pay will cross Rs 22,000, representing an increase of more than double their earlier monthly salary. Mann also announced that teachers would receive additional facilities based on the Kendriya Vidyalaya school pattern, which the government said would improve their overall service conditions.

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More than 15,000 students are currently enrolled in the CBSE-affiliated Adarsh Schools covered by the initiative. Mann said protecting the interests of teachers was directly connected with ensuring better educational outcomes for students. He maintained that teachers who feel financially secure and respected would be better placed to carry out their responsibilities and provide students with a stable learning environment.

Mann also maintained that his government had accepted the legitimate demands raised by the Adarsh School teachers after years of pending concerns. He described the decision as part of the broader commitment of his administration towards the welfare of different sections of society. The government said the enhanced salaries and improved service facilities would allow teachers to perform their duties in a smoother and more secure working environment.

The salary revision comes at a politically significant time for Punjab, with the decision being viewed as a major pre-election measure by the government. For the Mann-led administration, the move places education and teacher welfare at the centre of its governance messaging while directly benefiting more than 1,000 teachers. The government has also linked the decision to its wider emphasis on strengthening schools and improving the future prospects of students across Punjab.

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