The United Teachers Federation (UTF) in Hyderabad has raised a significant demand for the implementation of a normalisation process for the recently concluded Teachers Eligibility Test (TET). This call comes amid concerns that the current evaluation method may not fairly assess all candidates due to disparities in the examination conditions.
Exam Disparities Spark Demand for Fair Assessment
UTF members have highlighted that the TET was conducted on multiple dates, leading to variations in the difficulty level of the papers. According to their observations, one day's exam paper was notably tough, while another day's was moderate. This inconsistency, they argue, could unfairly impact candidates' scores if a standard normalisation process is not applied.
Travel Hardships Add to Concerns
In addition to the varying difficulty levels, the federation pointed out that some teachers were forced to travel considerable distances—ranging from 400 to 500 kilometers—to appear for the test. This travel burden, combined with the exam disparities, underscores the need for a more equitable evaluation system to ensure all candidates are judged fairly.
Call for Normalisation in CBT Format
Since the exams were conducted in a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format, UTF members insist that normalisation is essential before announcing the results. They cite the example of Andhra Pradesh, where the government has already initiated a normalisation process through Government Order (GO) 36. The federation urges the Telangana government to adopt a similar method to maintain fairness and transparency.
Supreme Court Ruling Increases Candidate Numbers
The demand for normalisation gains further urgency following a Supreme Court ruling that mandates all teachers must pass the TET. This ruling has led to a significant increase in the number of candidates appearing for the test this year, amplifying the need for a robust and fair assessment process to handle the larger pool of applicants.
UTF President Advocates for Immediate Action
Chava Ravi, president of the United Teachers Federation, emphasized the importance of this issue. He stated, "The difficulty level of the exam varied, with one day's paper being tough and another day's being moderate. Since the exams were conducted in a CBT format, the results must be normalised before being announced. The Andhra Pradesh govt has already initiated this process through GO 36, and we urge the Telangana govt to adopt the same method." This statement reflects the federation's strong stance on ensuring justice for all TET candidates.
In summary, the UTF's demand for normalisation aims to address the inequities arising from exam date variations and travel challenges, promoting a more balanced evaluation in line with precedents set by neighboring states.
