Last chance for 1,500 govt teachers to retain jobs

The test has been dubbed as the final opportunity for these teachers. They were granted a reprieve by the School Education Department on humanitarian grounds, though the Madras High Court had recommended dismissal of teachers who have not cleared NET.

Though the Directorate of School Education has conducted a ten-day training programme for them, most teachers have expressed fear that they might fail in the test again, thereby making it very difficult for them to continue in the job.

They have complained that the coaching provided was not comprehensive enough to help them acquire enough knowledge to clear the exam, adding that teachers from the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) taught them in contrary to what was announced earlier. “It will be difficult for a language teacher to clear other subjects, as they are not relevant to them”, P Suresh, a graduate teacher at AJS government-aided school said.

P Lakshmi, another teacher working at a school in Adyar, said there was no time to cover all the subjects during the training programme.

The Tamil Nadu Teacher’s Recruitment Board (TNTRB), the nodal agency which appoints teachers, said Paper-I of TET would be held today and Paper-II on Sunday.

Secondary grade teachers, who handle Class 1 to 5, would have to pass Paper-I. Likewise, graduate teachers, who handle Class 5 to 8, would have to clear Paper-II.

In Chennai, candidates can appear for Paper-I at 28 centres, while they can sit for Paper-II at 60 centres. Most of the affected teachers are appearing for Paper-I.