SHILLONG: The Meghalaya SSA School Association (MSSASA) Central Body has demanded exemption from Meghalaya Teacher Eligibility Test (MTET) for SSA teachers appointed before August 23, 2010.
The MSSASA submitted a representation to the State Government on December 11 in this regard.
The demand comes in the wake of an affirmative RTI reply to its query whether teachers working under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, whose appointment process was initiated prior to the notification of National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) on August 23, 2010, were exempted or it was mandatory to clear the Meghalaya Teacher Eligibility Test (MTET), 2018.
Pursuant to the provisions of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, the Central Government had appointed the NCTE as academic authority. The Centre authorised the NCTE as the academic authority to lay down the minimum qualifications for a person to be eligible for appointment as teacher. The NCTE subsequently issued a notification on August 23, 2010 prescribing minimum qualification for a person to be eligible for appointment as a teacher.
However, the notification had allowed exemption to those whose recruitment process started or commenced prior to August 23, 2010, but as per the NCTE Regulations, 2001.
The MSSASA also recalled the then Meghalaya Governor R. S Mooshahary’s address to Assembly wherein he announced that the provisions of the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 will become effective from April 2013 across the state of Meghalaya.
It said the SSA teachers in the state are appointed as per NCTE notification 2001 and according to it Teacher Eligibility Test is not a pre-condition. As per pre-requisite of NCTE norms, majority of SSA teachers are trained teachers and others are already enrolled for Teacher Education Course Diploma in Elementary Education.
The MSSASA also cited a judgement of the High Court of Meghalaya on March 13, 2018.
Based on the notification issued by NCTE on August 23, 2010 and the date of implementation of RTE Act in the state and the Judgement of the High Court, the Association requested the State Government to examine the matter and also demanded that it come up with a clear statement for exemption of Meghalaya Teacher Eligibility Test (MTET) for SSA Teachers appointed prior to August 23, 2010.
