West Bengal teachers appeal to CM for ‘permanent’ TET exemption for educators affected by SC judgement

The Sikshanuragi United Association (SUA) has approached the West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, seeking protection and Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) exemption for teachers appointed under the pre-TET recruitment rules.

A large number of long-serving non-TET teachers in West Bengal are facing uncertainty following the Supreme Court’s verdict over the requirement of TET for in-service teachers, the West Bengal teachers’ group said in an official letter to the CM and chief secretary.

It also emphasized that several teachers in West Bengal were appointed before the present TET-based recruitment system came into the implementation stage.

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'Place actual historical recruitment process for pre-TET teachers'

“In particular, teachers appointed in the “Normal Section” before the introduction of the separate Upper Primary recruitment system in 2016 entered service under the recruitment rules and procedures then prevailing in the State,” it added.

The SUA has urged the West Bengal govt to place the “actual historical” recruitment process of the pre-TET teachers, as well as other primary and upper primary teachers appointed under the pre-TET rules, before the Centre and seek appropriate protection for them.

Furthermore, the association mentioned that the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly had passed a resolution urging the Union Government to grant permanent exemption from TET to teachers appointed before 23 August 2010 and to amend the Right to Education Act, 2009, so that their employment, promotions and service benefits remain protected.

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Tamil Nadu has done it, why not Bengal? SUA on TET exemption rules

Comparing the Tamil Nadu government’s move for the pre-TET teachers, the group asked that if the government of Tamil Nadu could take such a clear and proactive stand in the interest of its teachers, there was no reason why the West Bengal government could not take a similar stance.

Therefore, the West Bengal teachers association has demanded the government to “immediately’ examine and place the actual recruitment structure before the Centre and the education ministry.

It also asked the government to clearly state its stance regarding the applicability of the TET requirement to teachers appointed in the normal section under the pre-existing recruitment rules .

In addition, it has also urged to introduce a complete and permanent exemption from TET for all teachers appointed under the legally valid pre-TET recruitment rules, including eligible Primary, Upper Primary and Normal Section teachers, so that their employment, promotion, pay and other service benefits remain protected.