TET qualified candidates knocked the door of former education minister for job opportunity

Ranchi, June 27 (HS) Over 50,000 candidates who qualified the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) in 2016, and had been expecting a quick decision on their appointment in government schools after the change of guard in Jharkhand, have started getting restless.

A delegation of 150 TET-qualified representatives from across Jharkhand, who had observed a three-day sit-in near Raj Bhavan that ended on February 14 and took out a candlelight march the same evening, has now started approaching the door of ruling party MLAs.

On Friday they met Mandar MLA and former education minister Bandhu Tirkey at his residence at Banhora in the city and shared their problem with a request to intervene into the matter. Tirkey also gave them positive assurances saying he will let the Chief Minister know of their problem and take proactive steps to get the problem solved.

Parimal Kumar, state president of the union of TET qualified candidates, JTET Uttirn Shikshak Bahali Morcha, said they are getting desperate as time was running out.

“Over 53,000 candidates across the state qualified TET in 2016 but none of them was called for counseling so far. Nearly four years have gone by waiting. We are all getting older, we all need jobs. Our lives are on hold,” Kumar said.

School education and literacy department special secretary Jatashanker Choudhary blamed technical glitches behind the delay.

“The issue of the local (domicile) policy, which is linked to government job appointments, is pending with Jharkhand High Court. Till that is resolved, it is tough to call anyone for counselling (for government jobs),” Choudhary Singh.

JTET qualified candidates are appointed as teachers in primary and upper primary section. An official at school education and literacy department said over 50,000 vacancies are there for teachers to impart education in primary schools.

“Grievances of the candidates are justified but one should blame the government only. The validity of the TET qualification has been increased from five to seven years. So candidates need not worry whether their qualifications are valid or not (after four years). Government also appointed as many as 18,000 teachers in 2019,” the official said.