Reconsider implementation of Teacher Eligibility Test: JKTF urges govt

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 23 (STC): The Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Forum (JKTF), has voiced strong concerns over the ongoing Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) and have urged the government to reconsider its implementation.
The Forum held a press conference today which was addressed by key forum leaders including Chairman Showkat Ali Baig, Senior Vice Chairman Ghulam Ahmed Mir, Vice Chairman Bashir Ahmed Thoker, General Secretary Tahir Ahmed Sufi, Secretary Muzaffar Ahmed Dar, Acting Secretary Gulzar Ahmed, Spokesman Saleem Niyazi, and Provincial President Irfan Nazir.
The forum highlighted the Supreme Court mandate making the TET mandatory for all teachers before they can be officially placed in government departments or considered for promotion.
However, the JKTF leaders expressed that despite being qualified and regularly trained, teachers feel burdened and stigmatized by this compulsory examination.
Showkat Ali Baig stressed that the TET has caused mental stress and distraction among teachers, impacting their performance and overall morale. He appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir government, under the leadership of Honorable Chief Minister Umar Abdullah and Education Minister Sakina, to file a review petition against the test. The forum cited similar actions by states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Kerala, which have challenged the TET to safeguard teachers’ dignity and preserve educational quality.
“The quality of education begins in the classroom, and a teacher under pressure cannot provide quality education,” Baig remarked. He urged the government to find a solution to relieve teachers from this “cocoon” of uncertainty and anxiety, ensuring they remain focused and motivated in their crucial role.
The JKTF has already engaged with government officials, including the Chief Minister and Minister of Education, but stressed that further dialogue and support are necessary. The forum also called upon all teachers’ unions across Jammu and Kashmir, especially in Jammu and Srinagar, to unite under the JKTF umbrella to collectively address and resolve these issues.
Saleem Niyazi, the forum’s spokesman, emphasized their commitment to defending teachers’ rights and dignity, pledging never to let the cause down. The JKTF’s appeal to the government and unions highlights the pressing need to balance regulatory measures with teacher welfare to ensure sustained educational progress in the region.
(Straight Talk Communications)