ANSTA says senior teachers appointed under earlier rules should not face new qualification requirements
The All Nagaland School Teachers’ Association (ANSTA) has sought exemption from the Nagaland Teacher Eligibility Test (NTET) for senior in-service teachers who were appointed under the qualifications prevailing at the time of their appointment and were subsequently covered by government orders exempting them from professional teacher training.
In a representation submitted to the Principal Director of School Education on Thursday, ANSTA said imposing the current qualification requirements on teachers who had been lawfully appointed under earlier rules would amount to applying the requirements retrospectively.
The association said some of the affected teachers have served the School Education Department for 15, 20 or even 25 years, with their services continuously accepted by the government.
ANSTA has particularly highlighted teachers appointed before September 3, 2001, who were exempted from undergoing Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed.) training under a Directorate of School Education press release issued on September 4, 2017.
The association said the earlier government order was significant because teachers who had been officially exempted from acquiring D.El.Ed. should not now be disadvantaged for lacking the same qualification.
“Such teachers may now find themselves caught in a paradox,” ANSTA said, arguing that they were permitted by the government not to acquire D.El.Ed. but could now face difficulty meeting the requirements for NTET because they do not possess the qualification.
The teachers’ body said the issue was not against professional standards in school education, but concerned the application of eligibility requirements to teachers who had already entered service under a different regulatory framework.
“There is a fundamental distinction between a person seeking appointment as a teacher today and a teacher who was lawfully appointed many years ago, has continuously served the Department, and whose appointment was accepted by the Government,” the association said.
ANSTA has requested the State government to grant permanent NTET exemption to senior in-service teachers appointed before the introduction or enforcement of the applicable TET requirement, provided they were appointed according to the qualifications prescribed at the time.
It has also sought specific exemption for teachers covered by earlier government orders exempting them from D.El.Ed. or other professional training, including those appointed before September 3, 2001.
The association further urged the government to ensure that such teachers are not denied promotion, salary, increments, pensionary or other service benefits, or continuity of service because they lack professional qualifications from which they were earlier exempted.
ANSTA has proposed that the government constitute a committee to identify similarly placed teachers and examine their appointment orders, qualifications and relevant government orders.
The association also urged the State to take up the matter with the Government of India and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), wherever necessary, for an appropriate exemption or clarification.
Citing developments in Tamil Nadu, ANSTA said the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on August 25 adopted a resolution seeking exemption from TET for government teachers appointed before August 23, 2010. The association urged Nagaland to consider a similar approach.
Pending a final decision, ANSTA has requested that no adverse action be taken against the affected teachers and that their service and other benefits remain protected.
The representation was submitted by ANSTA president Kasheto Sumi and general secretary Pekinto Y Jimo.
