Non-disbursal of benefits upsets government teachers

The affected teachers claimed that they have been working without any benefits including medical leaves, promotions, and incentives are being denied. 

More than 250 teachers who are employed in High Schools and Higher Secondary across Tamil Nadu were appointed five years ago on a seniority employment basis. “We are in the sixth year of service. We were given jobs on seniority basis in 2011, when late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was in power. Our placements were processed on certificate verification grounds. For unknown reasons our certificates underwent verification for five times on different dates between May 2010 and February 2011. However, in a single GO, we were appointed on same date with same vacancy number, but with different Certificate verification dates”, said a Govt School teacher. 

Trouble began for the teachers when the Right to Education act was implemented in the State on 15 November 2011 which made TET mandatory for employment. “The government order (GO) carried the notification with a ‘prior date’. The GO published, stating it was applicable to teachers who joined from a certain date. We were confused and applied for an exemption. The candidates whose certificates were verified on May 2010 was only exempted which informed through a notification from Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB)”, said a teacher. “So many of us eligible for a promotion, we are qualified in Bachelor of Teaching, but we are denied our benefits and unable to scale higher in career”, he added. 

The teachers claim that the mistake was on part of the government as they missed many employment seniority numbers and because of which the candidates got the Certificate Verification letters came delayed. 

President of Tamil Nadu Teachers Association PK Ilamaran said, “This was a serious issue affecting teachers. Many senior officials were approached for help. It is a pathetic situation after having completed five years of government service and not being treated as government employees”.