Low pay leaves Ludhiana school counsellor posts empty, ETEducation
Ludhiana: A flagship govt initiative to provide mental health support to students across Punjab has hit a bureaucratic wall, with three-quarters of specialised schools in this district unable to fill counsellor positions due to “unrealistic” salary offerings.
Under a new state education department mandate, all PM Shri schools are required to provide guidance and counselling sessions for students in classes IX through XII. The scheme intends for schools to hire part-time professionals to work eight hours a week — spread across four days — to help teenagers navigate career choices, behavioral challenges, and mental health issues. However, despite the urgent need for student support, only six of the 24 designated PM Shri schools in the Ludhiana district have successfully appointed a counsellor.
The primary obstacle is a rigid monthly salary cap of Rs 8,333. School principals and district officials report that the high eligibility requirements — which demand a master’s degree in psychology or a specialised post-graduate diploma in counselling — are incompatible with the low pay. Most qualified professionals are choosing more lucrative roles in private practice or hospitals rather than accepting the part-time govt positions.
A Ludhiana PM Shri school principal said: “The fixed salary is a major challenge for the authorities. Those with a master’s degree in psychology are not ready to take on part-time roles for eight thousand rupees when they already have stable work elsewhere. We are trying to find the best person for our students, but the math doesn’t add up for the candidates.”
Beyond simple career advice, the role is designed to be a critical intervention point for student well-being. The counselors are expected to conduct psychological and aptitude testing, address behavioral disorders, and act as a liaison between parents and teachers to improve the school environment. To qualify, candidates must have at least 50 percent marks in their undergraduate studies and be deemed physically and mentally fit, with priority given to those with prior experience in educational settings.
District guidance counsellor Gurkirpal Singh acknowledged the struggle but maintained that the selection process — overseen by the district education officer (secondary) and school management committees — is ongoing. While Singh assured that the remaining schools would fill their vacancies “as soon as possible,” the current vacancy rate of 75% leaves thousands of students without access to mandated support services as they approach critical examination periods. DEO Dimple Madaan was unavailable for comment on the staffing shortfall.
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