Teachers unions from different parts of Punjab staged a protest in Anandpur Sahib on Sunday against the Punjab government’s decision to make the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) mandatory for all serving government teachers. The protestors termed the move unjustified and demanded that the decision be rolled back.The government’s stand is that making TET mandatory, it helps maintain uniform standards in teaching and ensures continuous professional competence among educators. Officials argue that education is an evolving field and teachers must regularly update their knowledge to match new curricula, teaching methods, and learning outcomes.However, protesting teachers countered that the objective of improving teaching standards could be achieved through regular in-service training, workshops, and refresher courses rather than imposing a high-stakes qualifying test on experienced staff. They warned that the policy could adversely affect their morale and even lead to a shortage of teachers if many fail to clear the test.Raising slogans and holding placards, the teachers said they had entered government service after clearing all required recruitment procedures, including written examinations and interviews. “We were appointed strictly as per rules prevalent at that time. Imposing another compulsory test now is unfair,” the protesting teachers said.According to the teachers’ unions, the Punjab government’s decision will be compulsory not only for newly recruited teachers, but, also for those already in service. Sources said that teachers with less than five years of service left before retirement have been exempted from the test. The decision has also linked promotions to the TET, making it mandatory for teachers to clear the exam in order to be considered for higher posts.During the protest, a delegation of teachers met the Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, who was present in the Anandpur Sahib area, and submitted a memorandum highlighting their concerns. The teachers urged Bains to reconsider the policy, arguing that it had caused anxiety and resentment among senior teaching staff.Explaining their reservations, the teachers said that many of them have been teaching the same subject for over a decade or even longer. “Most of us specialise in one subject and have been continuously teaching it. Over the years, we naturally lose touch with other subjects,” they said. Making such teachers appear in a basic eligibility test like TET, which covers multiple subjects, was “embarrassing” and demoralising, particularly for senior teachers nearing retirement, they added.The Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) is a qualifying examination designed to assess the basic teaching aptitude and subject knowledge of teachers under Right to Education (RTE) act. Introduced as a part of the national education reforms, TET aims to improve the overall quality of school education by ensuring that teachers meet minimum professional standards. The test generally includes questions on child development and pedagogy, language proficiency, and subject-specific knowledge relevant to the level at which a teacher teaches.The teachers’ unions said they would continue their agitation if their demands were not addressed.
