Abolish TET for appointments before Aug 2010, demands TN Assembly resolution

CHENNAI: The Union government should exempt those who were appointed before August 23, 2010, from the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET), stating that the government should consider the experience and job security of the teachers, the State Assembly demanded unanimously on Tuesday.

The resolution was moved by Minister for School Education and Tamil Development A Rajmohan, who said that insisting that teachers write the TET examination would affect their livelihood. The resolution, which was adopted by voice vote, said that, to exempt teachers from the TET examination, the Union government should make the necessary amendment to the Right to Education Act, 2009.

TET exemption for pre-2010 teachers sought

"The Tamil Nadu government stresses that the Union government should take necessary legal steps and issue a clear circular or official notification through the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). The Tamil Nadu government also insists that, through these measures, teachers could continue their jobs without any hindrance, and also retain their job security and eligibility for promotions," the resolution said.

The TET examination is compulsory for secondary grade and graduate teachers who were appointed before August 23, 2010. During the review litigation process in the Supreme Court, it upheld the NCTE's decision making the TET examination compulsory for teachers appointed before that date.

DMK, AIADMK, PMK, CPI and Congress support TET resolution

The special resolution received support from various political parties in the Assembly. Members of the DMK, AIADMK, PMK, CPI, CPI(M) and Congress extended their support to the resolution moved by the School Education Minister.

There was no opposition to the resolution during the discussion in the House. The members supporting the resolution highlighted the need to address the concerns of teachers affected by the TET requirement and backed the State government's demand for an exemption for those appointed before August 23, 2010.

(With Online Desk inputs)