Hardeep Jamwal, JNM Journalist, Jammu
The prospect of making the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) mandatory for serving teachers and masters in Jammu & Kashmir has sparked a fresh debate within the education sector. This issue has triggered concern and discontent among thousands of teachers. They argue that subjecting them to new eligibility criteria—despite years of service and experience—amounts to overlooking their contributions.
Ganesh Khajuria, Patron of the Jammu & Kashmir Teachers Forum (JKUTF), stated that many teachers in the region have been serving the Education Department for two to three decades. Their appointments were made under the rules and selection processes in force at the time, and they have actively participated in departmental training and evaluation procedures.
He remarked that mandating the TET despite such extensive experience could breed a sense of insecurity and frustration among teachers. According to him, the TET was primarily intended to assess the aptitude of new candidates; judging the competence of teachers who have been educating students for years based solely on a single exam would not be appropriate.
Kuldeep Singh Bandral, the Forum’s Provincial President, also expressed concern over the proposal, noting that implementing such a provision could subject thousands of teachers to unnecessary mental stress. He emphasized that a teacher’s service experience, academic achievements, and participation in various training programs should be given equal weight.
The Teachers Forum has urged the government to consider the circumstances of serving teachers, their years of service, and their contributions to the education system before making a final decision on the matter. The organization clarified that it would continue to raise its voice democratically to safeguard teachers’ interests and hopes the government will adopt a sensitive and pragmatic approach to the issue.
It is worth noting that the TET issue is already a subject of ongoing discussion in the region, with related activities taking place at both legal and administrative levels. Consequently, the government’s stance in the coming days could significantly impact the future of thousands of teachers.
