Staff REPORTER
ITANAGAR, Oct 9: The Arunachal Pradesh Primary Teachers Association (APrPTA) on Friday urged the State Government to consider a one-time relaxation in the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) requirement for in-service teachers, citing the difficulties they may face in meeting the mandatory qualification.
Addressing a press conference here, APrPTA president Takar Dada expressed concern over the Supreme Court's recent order reaffirming the mandatory TET qualification for teachers teaching Classes I to VIII.
Dada said many serving teachers could face difficulties in appearing for or clearing the examination due to various reasons. He appealed to the state government to examine the matter and explore a feasible solution that would safeguard the interests of eligible in-service teachers.
Referring to reported initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir and Tamil Nadu, he said moves to amend the Right to Education (RTE) Act had been cited as possible avenues for providing relief to serving teachers from the TET requirement.
As an alternative to a blanket exemption, Dada suggested that the government consider a one-time relaxation through a special examination to enable eligible in-service teachers to fulfil the prescribed qualification.
The association also raised concern over the prolonged delay in conducting Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) meetings. Dada claimed that despite Cabinet approval for holding DPC meetings twice a year, the department had not conducted the meetings for the past three years, depriving thousands of eligible teachers of opportunities for promotion.
He urged the state government to intervene and ensure that the pending DPC meetings were held, while also addressing the concerns of serving teachers over the TET requirement.