The Democratic Teachers Front (DTF), Punjab, has launched a sharp critique against the state's education department. The union alleges that imposing the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) as a mandatory condition for promotions is unjust and unfairly sidelines a significant section of experienced educators.
What is the Core of the Controversy?
According to DTF leaders, the department recently promoted teachers from the primary cadre, which includes center head teachers, head teachers, and ETT teachers. However, it introduced a new condition that rendered head teachers and center head teachers ineligible for promotion if they had not passed the TET. The union's state president, Vikramdev Singh, along with general secretary Mahinder Kauriyanwali, finance secretary Ashwani Awasthi, and vice-president Jagpal Singh Bangi, presented this grievance.
They highlighted a perceived inconsistency in the department's approach. While ETT teachers were allowed promotion, their advancement was tied to the condition of clearing the TET within two years. The DTF leaders argue this creates a dual policy that is discriminatory.
Retrospective Application of TET Rules Challenged
The teachers' body strongly objects to applying the TET mandate retrospectively. They pointed out that the TET was introduced in 2011 under the Right to Education Act. Therefore, it should not be enforced upon teachers who were recruited before its implementation.
"No such condition was earlier applied to teachers appointed in 2010 or before," the leaders stated. They termed the sudden enforcement of this rule at the promotion stage as arbitrary and without justification. The move, they claim, penalizes dedicated teachers for not clearing a test that was not a requirement at the time of their appointment or during much of their service.
Demands and Call for Government Intervention
In light of these issues, the Democratic Teachers Front has made a direct appeal to the Punjab government. They have urged the state to intervene and issue necessary directions to resolve the matter. Their primary demands include:
- Exempting teachers who were appointed before the introduction of the TET in 2011 from this mandatory condition for promotion.
- Ensuring that long-pending promotions are decided in favour of the affected teachers, allowing their career progression based on experience and past service.
The union's protest underscores a growing tension between policy updates and the rights of existing employees. The DTF's stance is that career advancement should not be blocked by rules applied after the fact, and they are seeking immediate corrective action from the authorities.
