Regularise teachers who cleared TET: Ramadoss

PMK founder S. Ramadoss on Thursday urged the State government to regularise the services of temporary teachers who cleared the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) and are currently working in schools.

In a statement, Dr. Ramadoss said that around 5,000 intermediate and graduate teachers, who passed the TET between 2013 and 2017, were appointed as temporary teachers in the 2022-23 academic year.

He noted that these teachers joined service towards the end of COVID-19 and worked under severe financial constraints, even serving nearly five months without fixed pay.

At present, intermediate teachers receive an honorarium of ₹12,000 per month and graduate teachers ₹15,000. Pointing out that the Supreme Court has made TET mandatory for teaching appointments, he said there would be no legal hurdle in regularising these qualified teachers.

He urged the government to grant them permanent status or, if facing financial constraints, ensure job security through seniority-based regularisation and enhanced consolidated pay.