As students take off for summer holidays, RTE Act requires teachers to prepare for a mandatory eligibility test. However, state schools are yet to make it obligatory
As students take off for summer holidays, RTE Act requires teachers to prepare for a mandatory eligibility test. However, state schools are yet to make it obligatory
While school students are enjoying their summer vacation, most of their teachers are preparing themselves for the Teachers' Eligibility Test (TET) on June 26, as mandated by the Right to Education Act. Whereas the test is mandatory for all schoolteachers in the city, mostly CBSE and ICSE schools are following it. The State Board of Maharashtra has not yet accepted this rule. 
Too late: The state education department has not yet sent any circular
about the Teachers' Eligibility test to its schools. Representation pic
The state education department has not yet sent any circular about the qualification test to their schools. Although, some teachers in schools affiliated to the state board are participating in the test voluntarily. Raj Aloni, principal of Ramsheth Thakur Public School, Kharghar, CBSE, said, "Though the test is not for principals, I am appearing for it. To be eligible for teaching, a score ofu00a0 60 per cent is mandatory. But this might be for new teachers. If regular teachers fail to score 60 per cent, they will get a second chance. It is important to update oneself on the subjects. From my school approximately 25-30 teachers are appearing for TET."
The exams would be conducted in Mumbai, Thane and Pune. There are two main tests. Paper I will cover course material from Standard I to V and Paper II will cover subjects taught in Standard VI to VIII, like Science, Maths, Social Studies and the languages. One can opt to give one or both of the papers.
Smita Mahale, a primary school teacher from Ramsheth Thakur Public School, Kharghar, CBSE, said, "I teach Maths and Science and am appearing for both papers I and II. I am referring to my BA notes and the school textbooks. I am also taking the help of my friend."u00a0u00a0u00a0
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Welcome move
Najma Kazi, principal of Anjuman-I-Islam's Saif Tyabji Girls' High school and Junior College of Arts and Science, Mumbai Central, said, "Some of the teachers are taking up this test as they want to know what it comprises of. I thinku00a0 the state will send a circular about the test to all state board schools as well. Most of my teachers have gone on a vacation, so they may not appear for TET." She dded, "I personally feel it's a good move by the central government under RTE and this test will help teachers to update their knowledge."
Anita Kadam, (name changed), another primary teacher from South Mumbai SSC School, said, "If the state government will send the circular we young teachers wont mind appearing for the TET, but I don't think the old in age teachers would show any interest for this test." Pandurang Patil, deputy education officer, BMC, and head of private primary schools in the city, said, "It is too late to send teachers to the TET exams. Though the TET is mandatory for all the schools including SSC schools in the city, the circular has not yet been sent to any schools as the information came late from the central government. Hence, we might ask teachers to take the test next year."
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