Candidates who cleared TET in 2013 plead for priority in appointment of govt. school teachers in the new academic year

A group of Tamil Nadu Teacher Eligibility Test (TNTET) qualified secondary grade teachers (SGT) on Thursday urged Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Minister for School Education Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi to appoint them to the vacancies in the schools by the new academic year.

At a press conference held here, representatives of the TET SGTs from various districts, who had cleared the exam since 2013, appealed to the authorities concerned to prioritise their appointment.

“On Labour Day, we appeal to the government to fill the elementary school posts lying vacant since 2013. At least 40% of the qualified candidates are in the 40-45 age group. We have passed the qualifying exams after studying two types of school syllabi. Despite this, we are unemployed. The Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB), when calling for certificate verification, overlooks us because of marks-based assessment criteria. We do not have the skills or the mindset to write yet another qualifying examination. Despite our educational qualification, we are forced to take up any available job to make ends meet,” said E.R. Tamilvalavan, coordinator of the group.

The TRB announced 2,728 staff vacancies on July 21, 2024. There are 4,460 government schools with 5,804 vacancies in the State. “In the 2023-24 academic year, over 1 lakh children were admitted to elementary schools. If the authorities want to improve school education, they must increase the number of posts and recruit more teachers. TET candidates like us could be considered on the basis of our seniority and subject knowledge,” said Hemalatha, a science teacher.

The 2013 TET SGTs also urged the authorities to rescind the Government Order 149, which mandates an additional examination for teachers.