Andhra Pradesh teacher unions launch indefinite hunger strike over TET exemption demand

Teacher unions across Andhra Pradesh have escalated street protests and announced an indefinite hunger strike beginning September 4, demanding that the state government press the Centre to exempt in-service teachers from the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test or lower qualifying thresholds.

The Andhra Pradesh United Teachers' Federation declared the hunger strike at Alankar Centre in Vijayawada after HRD Minister Nara Lokesh and senior education officials failed to respond to repeated representations, according to State president N. Venkateswarlu and general secretary K.S.S. Prasad. The federation warned it would intensify the agitation if the government did not initiate talks.

Protests spread across multiple venues

Separately, the Andhra Pradesh Teachers' Federation entered its second day of demonstrations at Dharna Chowk in Vijayawada, demanding an offline Special TET. The Andhra Pradesh Primary Teachers' Association has called on teachers statewide to wear black badges while attending duties on Teachers' Day as a symbolic protest.

Five-point demand for statutory changes

The unions are demanding that the government ask the Centre to amend Section 23(1) of the Right to Education Act, fix the qualifying mark for in-service teachers at 40%, allow teachers to write examinations in the subjects they teach, amend relevant NCTE guidelines, and conduct the examination in offline mode.

APTF State general secretary K. Basava Linga Rao questioned why teachers with up to 30 years of service must pass an eligibility test when similar examinations are not imposed on professionals in other sectors. He argued that State governments have the authority to determine pass marks for reserved categories and alleged that inaccurate information was being conveyed to the HRD Minister.

The unions contend that imposing TET retrospectively is unfair to experienced teachers appointed under rules that did not require the qualification at the time of their recruitment. They are seeking relief specifically for teachers appointed before TET became mandatory.

Source: The Hindu