Mandatory TET: West Bengal Teachers’ Organization Finally Files Review Petition, Appeals for Support

Primary TET: This is significant news for primary teachers in West Bengal and across the country. The All Bengal Primary Teachers’ Association (ABPTA) has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court against the mandatory implementation of the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers with their advocate Firdous Samim. This move is a major effort to secure the future of thousands of primary teachers in the state.

What is the Core Issue?

Recently, the Supreme Court ruled that the TET exam is mandatory for in-service primary teachers. This verdict has created a risk of job loss for all teachers who were appointed before the TET was a requirement. In response, the ABPTA and other teacher organizations have united against this ruling. State governments like Tamil Nadu and Kerala have also joined this legal battle.

Why the Opposition?

According to the teacher unions, making TET suddenly mandatory for teachers who have been dedicatedly serving for many years is unjust. Their main arguments are:

• Rules at the Time of Appointment: When these teachers joined the service, TET was not a mandatory requirement. Therefore, imposing a new rule on teachers appointed under the old regulations is not logical.
• Quality of Education: These teachers have been educating students for years, and their competence is already proven through their work. Declaring them incompetent for not clearing the TET exam now is unfair.
• Pupil-Teacher Ratio: If a large number of teachers are dismissed, the Pupil-Teacher Ratio in the state’s schools will be severely affected, which would be detrimental to the overall educational environment.

Role of the State Government

The ABPTA has appealed to the state government and the education department to stand by the teachers during this critical time and join the review petition. They believe this is not just a fight for the teachers but a matter concerning the future of the state’s education system.

Message to the Teachers

An appeal has been made for all teachers to unite in this struggle, irrespective of their affiliations. This is a fight to protect the livelihood and dignity of every teacher. Teacher leaders believe that alongside the legal battle, protests on the streets might also be necessary.

No recent posts on this matter were found on wbpay.in, but all teachers and education enthusiasts in the state are closely watching this case. All eyes will be on the next hearing.