SHILLONG: Meghalaya Education Minister, Lahkmen Rymbui, indicated that the department is trying to resolve the difficulties that have arisen following the Supreme Court’s ruling making the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) mandatory for all teachers.
Speaking to reporters, Rymbui said that the Government is attempting to seek clarification that any order affecting the employment of teachers should not be applied retrospectively, but should be applied prospectively.
Despite this effort, the Minister conceded that the Supreme Court’s directive, which mandates TET as an essential condition, still stands for now.
He informed that the department has decided to consult with the State’s Advocate General (AG) to file a Review Petition against the directive.
The Government is also trying to persuade the Central Government to amend the NCERT rules so that they do not affect teachers who were appointed before the implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act.
Teachers Protest in New Delhi
Regarding the agitation in New Delhi, a massive protest was organised as a sign of strong opposition to the Supreme Court’s directive. Teachers under the banner of the All India Primary Teacher Federation (AIPTF) held a protest at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.
Thousands of teachers from across the country, including those from Meghalaya, participated in the agitation.
Rymbui, however, denied that the State Government had any involvement or prior knowledge of the protest, stating that it was organized by the teachers’ organizations themselves. He concluded by reiterating that the Supreme Court’s decision remains in effect for the time being, even as the Government argues its case and has decided to file the Review Petition.
