CABE proclaims Goa among 8 other states that didn’t conduct TET

Goa, Karnataka, Jammu & Kashmir and five other north-eastern states have not held Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), which is conducted for the appointment of teachers in schools. The Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) has noted the following in its 62nd meeting that took place in New Delhi. The board also pointed out that Delhi, West Bengal and Goa are the only three states that have not yet formed School Management Committees (SMC) for primary schools in the states.

Further, Goa only has its 65% primary schools where pupil to teacher ratio are amenable with the Right of Child to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009(RTE). Goa has not even held the mandatory TET as the RTE Act guidelines. The main reason for not conducting TET was said to be the meager number of 100 teachers who were expected to take the exam at a time from Goa. Without clearing a state-held TET, the teachers cannot get appointments under the RTE Act guidelines and there are no measures that are taken for Goa teachers as of yet regarding the same.

Goa doesn’t even hold its own qualifying NET and SAT examinations that are taken for recruitment of college teachers for the same reasons as of TET. The college teachers need to take the Maharashtra test instead, to comprehend with the situation.

The RTE Act has crucial guidelines for every state to initiate SMCs, which would take care of the overall functioning of the schools. It is responsible for the formation of school development plan and monitoring the funds provided to the school by state government or from any other sources. According to the Act, every school is required to make such SMCs in which elected representatives of local authority, parents and teachers would take part as members. Hence, Goa along with other states needs to take immediate action to the following regulations and set up the bodies and facilities as per the Act.