PANJIM: Schools in Goa can expect a severe shortage of teachers when the new academic year begins next month. This, when most schools will be on the lookout for English teachers like never before with the state government's new policy of allowing schools already receiving grants to shift to the English medium in the primary.
A circular issued by the directorate of education (DoE) in January this year prohibits schools from appointing teachers unless they clear the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), as required under the Right of Child to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.
The responsibility of conducting the state TET was handed over to the State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT). One TET was to be held before the new academic year was to begin on June 6, 2011. The January circular still stands but citing 'lack of infrastructure', the plan to hold the state TET has been called off for now. Several teachers in Goa, employed on a contract basis or presently filling in temporary vacancies for teachers on leave and looking for a full-time job, might find themselves in a fix.
Fearing being rendered jobless, many teachers across the state have applied for the Central Teacher Eligibility Test announced this month. "We will allow teachers who have cleared the Central TET to be employed in Goa schools till we have the necessary infrastructure for a state TET," a DoE official said.
Clearing the TET has been made mandatory for teachers who have a diploma in education, but is not necessary for teachers who possess a degree in education.
A lot changes with the state having announced its new policy of grants to English medium primary schools with Konkani or Marathi as a compulsory subject from Class I to X.
Schools looking at a shift in medium as a result of the new policy will find themselves with a very limited choice, if at all they find eligible candidates.
The circular issued in January has also laid down a tougher criteria for teachers to be eligible for appointment. The circular, in keeping with provisions of the RTE Act, also makes it mandatory for teachers seeking appointments up to Class V to be qualified with a diploma in education. The teachers should also have scored a minimum of 50% marks at the Class XII exam, as per the new requirement.
The TET, considered to be on the lines of National Eligibility Test (NET), conducted by University Grants Commission for college teachers, is aimed at improving the selection procedure.
The TET would test the general and subject knowledge along with a candidate's teaching skills. The National Council for Teacher Education will ensure that TET standards are high like in the case of NET. This means that even all the teachers appearing for the central TET from Goa are not likely to clear the exam at their first attempt.
when all these years while MOI in primary have been konkani how can you expect good english teachers now. But people like Parikar and Shashikala will not find any thing difference. For them English is always red.
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