Special TET (Teachers' Eligibility Test) eludes teachers of Assam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The cry for holding special TET (Teachers' Eligibility Test) for the regularization of a number of categories of teachers working in the State continues to fall on the deaf ears of the State Education department and the SSA (Sarba Siksha Abhiyan).

Education Volunteers (EVs), Sanyogi Teachers and Jyotikendra teachers worked for years without their jobs regularized by the Education department through special TETs. The State has 3459 education volunteers, 815 jyotikendra teachers and 6363 sanyogi teachers, and most of such teachers have acquired D.El.Ed diploma or B.Ed degree.

Talking to The Sentinel, Education Volunteers' Association Assam (EVAA) president Shaikh Abdullah said, "We're 3434, and 3339 of us have acquired D.El.Ed. or B.Ed. diploma/degree from the NCTE (National Council for Teachers' Education). We've been agitating since 2013 for the regularization of our jobs, but to no avail."

All Assam Sanyogi Sikshakarmi Union (AASSKU) president Abul Kalam said, "We had discussion with the State Education department that published minutes of the understanding reached for holding special TET for the regularization of our posts. In the meantime, many of us have acquired D.El.Ed and B.Ed diploma/degree, but no special TET is being held for regularizing our posts. We are 6363 teachers and 3559 of us have D.El.Ed pass certificates. We were appointed in 2005 in Sanyogi Siksha Kendras set up in villages to bring school dropout students back to the classroom. In 2007 we were attached to the lower primary schools as assistant teachers. However, all of a sudden we were relieved from service in 2012. Since then we've been demanding regularization of our jobs through special TET. In 2018 we had discussion with the SSA and the Education department when they assured us of holding special TET in June 2019. In the meantime, most of us completed D.El.Ed. The SSA then started verification of qualifications and distribution of unique identity numbers to each of us. Of late, the verification process has been started afresh as if to delay the holding of special TET for us."

Jyotikendra Sikshakarmi Santha (Assam) (JSSA) president Munmun Chetia said, "We, 815 shikshakarmis, have been working since 2003 at 527 jyotikendras. Among us, 355 have completed D.El.Ed course. We have been waiting for the department to hold the special TET to regularize our jobs."

When contacted, an SSA official said, "Apart from EVs, Sikshakarmis and Jyotikendra teachers, the jobs of various other employees working under the SSA have not been regularized as yet. The responsibility of taking decision for holding special TET lies with the State Education department. Our responsibility is limited to verifying the prerequisite qualifications of the candidates and giving them unique identity numbers. Our verification and distribution of unique identity numbers are nearing completion. We hope that the department will hold a special TET for such teachers."

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