SUs, organisations plan to stage massive protest

After the expiry of certificates on May 28 of all the candidates who qualified Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) in 2013 and kept waiting for their recruitment as teachers by the State Government, several organisations including student unions are planning to stage massive protest against State Government’s apathy. The certificates were valid for five years (2013-18).

Ironically, out of over 50,000 teachers who qualified the test, merely 15,698 were appointed by the State Government. According to some qualified candidates, despite, assurances over amending the rules, no serious attempt were taken up by the State Government to fill the vacant posts across the State.

The candidates said that after the expiry of their TET certificates they have become virtually handicapped as they have again become ineligible for teachers’ post. Now, they have to again wait for the Government to hold a TET examination so that they can reappear and again pass the examination in order to be eligible for teachers’ recruitment in near future. 

Meanwhile, registering their protest, members of students’ wing of Indian National Congress (INC) – National Students Union of India (NSUI) said that during 2014 Lok Sabha Election, the ruling party had promised that all qualified candidates will be recruited. However at present, the situation depicts utter failure of the State Government in providing employment to all eligible candidates. It stated that due to this Government’s approach, even those who qualified TET in 2015 are yet to be recruited.

Condemning the recent initiatives of the State Government, NSUI – Regional Coordinator (Bihar and Jharkhand), Abhinav Bhagat said, “Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) is doing nothing except making false promises. The State Government in the name of providing employment is merely compelling candidates to migrate to other cities. Despite having the resources and ample opportunities available, the State Government is just doing nothing,” said Bhagat.

Bhagat further added that since past three years, NSUI members have been protesting over the issue and have also written to the Education Minister several times regarding the matter, however, nothing happened. According to the sources, Jharkhand High Court (HC) had issued an order way back to fill all vacant posts of teachers in Government schools by recruiting TET qualified teachers.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Principal Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, A P Singh tsaid, “The National Council of Teacher Education (NCTE), a statutory body of the Central Government defines the validity, it cannot be changed.

The matter is a non-issue; it can neither be supported nor denied. The Government is doing its best and has recruited all those candidates who fulfill the criteria as defined.” Notably, by far, the State Government has conducted TET only twice since 2011.