Hyderabad, June 26: In-service teachers across Telangana have urged the State government to introduce relaxations in the proposed special Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), saying the current rules place an additional burden on educators already handling academic and administrative responsibilities.
The demand comes after the Supreme Court directed that all teachers must qualify in TET by August 31, 2028, in line with provisions under the Right to Education Act, 2009, and the National Council for Teacher Education guidelines.
Teachers said they have already cleared multiple recruitment examinations before entering government service. Therefore, they believe writing another eligibility test after decades of service creates unnecessary pressure, particularly for senior teachers with family and health responsibilities.
Special TET for in service teachers
The Telangana government has decided to conduct a separate TET for in service teachers twice a year, in addition to the regular examinations held for new candidates. Teachers have welcomed the decision but are seeking changes to the syllabus, examination pattern and qualifying criteria.
They argued that the existing syllabus requires teachers to study subjects unrelated to their teaching specialisation. For example, mathematics teachers must prepare biology topics, while science teachers must cover mathematics, physics and chemistry together. Likewise, language teachers are required to study social science content.
Teachers’ associations have also requested the government to consider teaching experience while deciding qualifying marks. They said educators with decades of classroom service should not be assessed on the same basis as fresh candidates.
They further appealed for suitable relaxations across all categories, including SC, ST, BC, Divyang and OC candidates, while taking years of service into account.
Teachers believe such measures would reduce stress and help them focus on improving classroom teaching rather than preparing for another competitive examination.
They urged the State government to adopt a practical and humane approach while finalising the notification for the special TET, saying it would protect the interests of experienced teachers and strengthen the quality of school education.
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