“I was told it’s standard procedure,” she says. “But when I asked for them back, they said I’d have to resign first. When I did resign, they demanded I complete the entire academic year. I was stuck.” She subsequently missed her brother’s wedding and had to stay on at work till April 2025.
But Aparna’s case is not isolated. Across Chennai, scores of teachers employed in private schools, particularly unaided matriculation and CBSE institutions, allege that managements routinely retain their original degree certificates. The practice, while unofficial and largely unspoken, functions as an unrelenting leash: restricting mobility, personal growth, and even access to government services that require identity or qualification proof.
It’s unethical, and illegal
The act of retaining original educational certificates is not supported by Indian labour law. The University Grants Commission (UGC), Ministry of Education, and even Madras High Court have reiterated in several cases that employers cannot withhold original documents of employees under any circumstances.
In a recent article, Times of India reported that: “The Directorate of Private Schools is cracking down on educational institutes that illegally retain original certificates of teachers an unofficial yet widespread tactic used to block exits…However, this directive does not apply to schools where teachers submitted their certificates as part of a legal bond, signed with informed consent.”
“This is a clear case of coercion,” says Chennai-based Advocate R. Vignesh, who specialises in labour and education law. “Unless the employee voluntarily deposits their certificates and is free to retrieve them at any time, such retention is illegal. It’s a form of bonded labour, cleverly disguised as policy.”
Yet, enforcement remains lax.
Fear of retaliation keeps many silent
Teachers who have tried to speak up say they’ve been threatened with poor experience certificates, deliberate delays in relieving letters, and even blacklisting among private schools in the city, all of which make it hard to find new employment.
“When I asked for my certificates back, the principal said they’d mention ‘disciplinary concerns’ in my experience letter if I left mid-year,” says Sujatha (named changed), who taught Social Science at a matriculation school in T Nagar. “It felt like blackmail. I had no option but to wait until March, even though I had a better job offer.”
Another teacher, Kiran, who quit his school in Avadi after five years of working there, recalls being made to “run from pillar to post” for weeks. “They wanted me to pay two months’ salary in lieu of notice even though I hadn’t signed any such contract. My certificates were with them, so I had to cave in.”
In WhatsApp groups and staff rooms, such stories are often shared in whispers. There is no formal union support or grievance redressal mechanism that private school teachers can rely on. Most fear being labeled “troublemakers” and losing future opportunities. “We’re stuck between wanting to fight and needing a livelihood,” says Sujatha. “And schools take advantage of that silence.”
Small wins, long road
There have been isolated victories. In 2023, a group of teachers from a private school in Tambaram collectively approached the district education office. After weeks of follow-up and media attention, the school was pressured to return the certificates. “It was empowering, but exhausting,” said one of the teachers, who requested anonymity. “Not everyone has the strength or support to fight like that.”
Legal aid groups have begun offering pro bono support to teachers willing to file official complaints. “Even one FIR can shake the confidence of these managements,” says Vignesh. “But fear and dependency keep many from taking that step.”
The human cost
Beyond legality, the deeper issue is one of dignity and autonomy. Many teachers interviewed for this report spoke of feeling powerless, infantilised, and trapped. The inability to even apply for a loan, passport, or new job without pleading with school administrators has taken a psychological toll.
“I teach my students to stand up for themselves,” says Aparna. “And then I go to the principal’s office and beg for my own degree. What message are we sending, that educators should not have agency over their own lives?”
Towards accountability
Experts argue that the School Education Department needs to issue a public circular warning institutions against the retention of original certificates and set up a whistleblower-friendly redressal mechanism.
“We talk about the National Education Policy, about empowering teachers, about digital classrooms,” says Jothi. “But what about the basic right to leave a job without being held hostage?”
Several teachers have also been advocating for the formation of a union solely for the purpose of protecting the rights of teachers working in private schools. “Withholding degree certificates is just one of the many ways schools harass teachers. A lot more goes on in school campuses. Today, private schools have turned into corporations and businesses, leaving little to no room for teachers to thrive. Everyone remains silent either out of fear of retaliation by the management or to avoid causing any disruptions to classes for children. But if we are continued to be treated this way, there will be no other option left,” explained Aparna.
However, until then, for thousands of private school teachers across Tamil Nadu, their greatest qualification, their degree, remains just out of reach.
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If you’re a private school teacher facing similar or other issues and would like to share your story, write to us at [email protected] or DM us at JFWDigital on Instagram.
