Is TET Mandatory: A new debate has recently emerged regarding teacher recruitment and qualification standards, affecting thousands of experienced teachers in West Bengal. The controversy primarily centers on those teachers who have been teaching for ten years or more but are now required to take the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET).
A recent Supreme Court ruling and a 2017 notification from the NCTE (National Council for Teacher Education) have further complicated the issue, bringing even long-serving, experienced teachers under the purview of the TET qualification.
The Core Debate and Teachers’ Arguments
At the heart of this debate lies a fundamental question: Isn’t ten years of practical teaching experience equivalent to theoretical training?
Experts believe that the skills a teacher acquires in child psychology and teaching methods through long-term interaction with students are in no way inferior to what is taught in a B.Ed or D.El.Ed course. The main arguments are:
- The Importance of Practical Experience: The practical knowledge a teacher gains by understanding and interacting with children for a decade is far more effective than rote learning.
- Knowledge of Child Psychology: Child Pedagogy is a significant part of the TET examination. Experienced teachers naturally become proficient in this subject over time.
- Old Rules and Their Significance: There was a rule in the past where untrained teachers with ten years of experience were considered ‘trained’, and they faced no issues with their increments or salary hikes. This rule itself proves that experience has always been given importance.
Historical Context and Legal Steps
This rule was based on two notifications from 2009, which stated that a teacher with ten years of teaching experience would be considered a trained teacher, especially for receiving increments. This rule was in effect until 2012.
Teachers feel that this point should be raised as a crucial argument in ongoing or future court cases. The question of why teachers with more than ten years of experience should have to sit for the TET exam needs to be presented forcefully before the court. According to them, the circulars and rules from that time in West Bengal could add a new dimension to the case and serve as a strong argument in favor of experienced teachers.
Overall, making the TET examination mandatory for teachers with ten years of experience is a complex and sensitive issue. While there is a need for qualification standards to maintain the quality of education, on the other hand, long-standing practical experience cannot be ignored.
