46,000 TET-qualified teachers bag permanent jobs in Assam

GUWAHATI: The BJP-led Assam government has brought over 46,000 TET-qualified teachers under the regular government pay structure and converted their jobs from contractual to permanent till the retirement age of 60 years, to fulfil one of its election promise made in 2016.
"About four and half years ago, we made this promise (to regularise the jobs of TET-qualified teachers) and in compliance we have notified this with effect from June 1," Assam education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. "The jobs of these teachers are no longer temporary and will have their service period till their retirement age of 60. Their pay scale will be on a par with any other government teachers, they will be eligible for the 3% annual increment, DA as and when the Centre announces, as well as for the contributory provident fund. Like other employees, they too will be eligible to avail casual leaves, paid leaves, and maternity leaves. They will also be able to avail bank loans with government undertaking," Himanta said.
He said 29,701 of TET-qualified teachers in elementary schools have been serving since 2012 at a fixed pay and there was no certainty of regularisation of their jobs. The Centre was paying a fixed amount Rs 15,000 to such teachers, which was 30% of their take home money and the remaining 70% was being paid by the state government.
The other 11,206 teachers in a second category called "state pool teachers", who will also benefit from the move. "They had a one-year contract, but now their jobs will be permanent till they turn 60," he said.
The third category of 5,243 teachers are in high-school level, who also have been on a one-year contractual service with a fixed pay of Rs 10,000 per month, which was later enhanced to Rs 20,000 per month. "Besides, the 46,153 teachers in the three categories will also be eligible for medical benefit of up to Rs 5 lakh for the entire family, like other government employees," Himanta added.