Only 4 TETs held instead of 16: Teachers point to gap in process

While the major demand is for scrapping of TET, a few others are hoping that the government, which had held a mere four such tests in the past eight years when they should have actually held 16 as per schedule, are hoping that they would be offered another chance besides the one coming up in June.

The teachers are confident that the government would not let them down and come upwith a policy decision to safeguard them, the moment the model code of conduct comes to an end on May 23.

However, Justice S M Subramaniam disposing a batch of petitions moved by teachers challenging their termination for lack of TET certification, said, “There cannot be any leniency or misplaced sympathy by the State government towards teachers who have failed to pass the TET. If the teachers are unable to pass TET for the past many years, then no purpose would be served by granting further extension.”

Tamil Nadu Teachers Association (TNTA) State Secretary PK Illamaran told DT Next that teachers, who have been taking classes for a subject like Tamil for many years, cannot be subjected to a test in various subjects like English, Mathematics, Environmental Studies and Science in TET. “It’s akin to asking an eye surgeon to perform a heart operation,” he added.

But Justice Subramaniam, on holding that a doctor, who has completed MBBS and passed House Surgency alone can register at Medical Council of India (MCI) for practicing medicine, said, “The Act unambiguously specifies that the teachers who failed to possess the qualification at the commencement of the Act shall acquire such minimum qualifications within a period of five years.”

But now eight years have lapsed, the judge held, before directing the authorities to issue show cause notice within two weeks to all such unqualified teachers and obtain explanation within 10 days on their failure to obtain TET.