4,000 teachers fail eligibility test; likely to lose jobs

The pass percentage for TET is as low as 45% every year. With such a low pass percentage, teachers need more time to clear the exam. CITY-BASED TEACHER

MUMBAI:MORE than 4,000 primary teachers working in various state-run schools are likely to lose their jobs, as per a recent circular issued by the Directorate of Education.

The circular states that those teachers who have joined after the year 2013 will be retained in service only if they have cleared the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) by July 2018.

“As per the rules laid by a government resolution dated 13 February 2013, TET has been made mandatory for the post of primary teachers across the state. The government had accordingly given time for teachers who joined after the year 2013 to complete the eligibility requirement. Accordingly, those who have failed to pass the exam so far would be deemed ineligible for the post and the services of such teachers would be terminated,” stated the circular.

The government had allowed teachers to complete the eligibility requirement within three consecutive exams from the year 2016. The third and the final attempt was in July 2018. While the state education department has not given an estimate of how many such teachers are likely to be terminated, teachers groups in the city said that the number is over 4,000 across the state.

The education department asked teachers to submit their certificates by November, failing which their services would stand terminated.

The action could affect nearly hundred teachers working in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) schools as Shikshan Sevaks over the last few years.

Some teachers have now written to the state education department asking for an extension.

“The government should give those teachers who failed the test another chance to clear the exam before taking such any extreme step,” said a city-based teacher.

A senior official from the education department said the order stands valid and action would be initiated against teachers who have not cleared the exams. “Enough chances have been given to the teachers to fulfil the eligibility conditions and further extensions can’t be given,” added the official.