The Central Government has sought a report from Jharkhand as to how many primary teachers have been recruited from the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) as per the order of the Supreme Court.
Image used for presentation. (Awakening)
State Bureau, Ranchi. The Center has sought a report from the state government on how many primary teachers of Jharkhand will be affected by the implementation of the requirement of passing the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET).
The Union Education Ministry has asked to assess and report how many teachers of Jharkhand will be affected by the implementation of the Supreme Court order making it mandatory to pass TET. Besides, the Center has also directed to take legal advice at the state level regarding implementing the order of the Supreme Court.
The Union Education Ministry has cited the order passed by the Supreme Court on September 1 last year, in which it has been made mandatory for all primary teachers (those appointed even before the implementation of RTE) to pass TET.
It has also been said in the order that the government can remove from service those teachers who do not pass TET within two years. Also, it will be mandatory for teachers to pass TET for promotion.
The Union Ministry has also said that the Ministry has received memorandums from many teachers, teachers unions and MPs etc. regarding exemption from the said order. It is said in them that teachers have reached such an age that it will not be easy for them to pass TET.
Also, implementing court orders may create financial crisis for them. The Ministry cannot reach the right conclusion regarding the said order until data is received from all the states as to how many teachers will be affected by this order. Proper format has also been sent to the states for giving reports.
39 review petitions filed in Supreme Court
A total of 39 review petitions have been filed against the said order of the Supreme Court. These include petitions from the states of Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Kerala and various teacher organizations. Meanwhile, an organization also filed a writ petition, which was rejected by the Supreme Court on December 25 last year.
30 thousand teachers likely to be affected in Jharkhand
Nearly 30 thousand teachers in the state may be affected by the Supreme Court imposing the requirement of passing TET. All Jharkhand Primary Teachers Association has made this estimate. However, the state government has not yet called for its report from the districts. Also, the state government has not taken any decision on whether to implement the Supreme Court order or not.
Instructions have also been given to comply with the regulations of NCTE.
The Union Education Ministry has also instructed the state government to comply with various regulations made by the National Council of Teacher Education (NCTE) regarding teacher appointment. The Ministry has said that the regulations of NCTE should be compulsorily implemented in the teacher appointment rules formed or to be formed in the state.