The DMK government is under intense criticism for failing to honour a key election promise made during the 2021 Assembly polls – the regularisation of part-time teachers in Tamil Nadu’s government schools. As the statewide protest by over 12,000 part-time teachers entered its second week on Monday, 14 July 2025 demonstrators accused the ruling party of betrayal and demanded immediate action on Election Manifesto Promise No. 181, which explicitly committed to making part-time art, music, and physical education teachers permanent.
Despite more than four years in power, the DMK has made no progress toward implementing this promise, leaving thousands of teachers in limbo, working on consolidated pay without job security or benefits. The teachers, who have been serving in government schools since as early as 2012, earn a meagre ₹12,500 a month, barely a living wage in today’s economy.
“The Chief Minister promised us regularisation. That promise got him votes. But today, we are still treated like temporary workers, denied dignity and rights. Is this the Dravidian model we voted for?” asked a protesting teacher at the Directorate of Public Instruction (DPI) campus in Chennai.
The protest, which began on 8 July 2025, has seen over 5,000 teachers gather in Chennai from across the state. Many are staging sit-ins, enduring harsh conditions and police action, as the government continues to remain silent on their demands. Some teachers broke down on camera, saying they are unable to support their families, educate their children, or live with dignity on their current wages.
“When we ask for the promise to be fulfilled, we are met with police threats. Arrests, detentions, this is the government’s response to democratic protest,” said one teacher. “If fighting for a promised job is a crime, then bury us here in Chennai.”
The protesters have also flagged Election Promise No. 311, which assured pay parity for intermediate teachers. More than a decade into service, they point out that their roles and workloads mirror those of permanent teachers, yet they continue to be paid a fraction of the salary with no social protections.
P. Gowthaman, secretary of the Secondary Grade Seniority Teachers’ Association (SSTA), said the protest will not end until the government provides a firm date for fulfilling the manifesto commitment.
Social media has also amplified the protest, with viral videos and hashtags slamming the DMK’s inaction. “They boast about the Dravidian model and social justice but can’t even honour a promise to regularise the jobs of teachers earning ₹12,500,” one user posted.
தமிழக பள்ளிக்கல்வித்துறையில் 12,000 பகுதி நேர ஆசிரியர்கள் பணியாற்றி வருகின்றனர். கடந்த 2021 சட்டப்பேரவை தேர்தல் பிரச்சாரத்தின் போது, பகுதி நேர ஆசிரியர்கள் பணி நிரந்தரம் செய்யப்படுவார்கள் என திமுக வாக்குறுதி அளித்து இருந்தது.
ஆனால் ஆட்சிக்கு வந்து 4½ ஆண்டுகளை கடந்தும், தேர்தல்… pic.twitter.com/vmh2JmG39c
— Vinoj P Selvam (@VinojBJP) July 14, 2025
Many teachers said they had voted for the DMK believing in its promises. “We trusted Stalin as a leader who understands the poor and the working class. Today, we feel abandoned,” said a teacher from Madurai district.
(With inputs from DT Next)
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