Education Minister Says Govt Already Pursuing Matter Before Court; Teacher Dignity and Professional Standing Must Be Protected
Srinagar, September 5 (KNC): Jammu and Kashmir Education Minister Sakina Itoo on Saturday said the government would make every possible effort to address the concerns of teachers over the ongoing Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) issue, asserting that the matter is already being pursued before the court.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a Teachers’ Day function at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), Srinagar, the minister said the government was aware of the concerns and apprehensions prevailing among sections of the teaching community and was taking steps to seek an appropriate resolution.
Itoo said the issue had caused considerable mental stress among teachers, adding that their dignity, professional status and contribution to the education sector could not be overlooked while dealing with the matter.
She said the Education Department has already approached the court regarding the issue, while the government would also raise the matter in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly once it convenes.
“I will bring a resolution, and that resolution will be passed in the majority,” Itoo said, expressing confidence that the proposed Assembly resolution would help address the concerns of teachers.
The minister said the matter should not be reduced to the question of whether teachers should appear for an examination or not, stressing that the government also had to take into consideration the professional dignity and role of teachers.
She pointed out that teachers themselves are responsible for preparing students for different examinations and shaping their academic careers, and therefore their concerns deserved due consideration.
Itoo maintained that the government was committed to safeguarding the interests of the teaching community and would continue exploring legal, administrative and legislative avenues to resolve the issue.
The Education Minister reiterated that the government would pursue the matter before the competent court and subsequently take up the issue in the Assembly, with the objective of providing clarity and addressing the concerns being raised by teachers.
The remarks come at a time when sections of the teaching community have expressed apprehensions over the TET requirement, seeking appropriate relief and clarity amid the prevailing uncertainty.
The government’s proposed intervention through an Assembly resolution is expected to provide another institutional avenue for taking forward the concerns of the affected teachers.(KNC)
