Educators Press Minister for Salary Reforms and Lower TET Thresholds
Over 100 professional associations met with School Education Minister Rajmohan to demand immediate systemic reforms in Chennai. Key issues included pay parity, regularizing contract staff, and accelerating the production of Braille learning materials.
Staff Demands for Parity and Job Security
During a high-level assembly at Chennai's Anna Centenary Library on Tuesday, School Education Minister Rajmohan faced intensive lobbying from representing bodies across the academic spectrum. More than 100 teachers’ associations presented a formal petition to adjust the qualifying standards for the recently conducted special Teachers Eligibility Test (TET). Beyond testing requirements, the push for job stabilization dominated the discourse.
M. Usharani, president of the Tamil Nadu Vocational and Special Teachers’ Association, confronted the administration regarding the precarity of long-term contract roles. Despite 15 years of service, these educators face annual contract renewals every June with salaries stagnating at ₹25,000. Additionally, the Secondary Grade Seniority Teachers’ Association highlighted a specific wage gap affecting those hired before June 1, 2012. General secretary J. Robert argued for the immediate implementation of an “equal pay for equal work” policy to reconcile 12 years of pay discrepancies.
Infrastructure Gaps and Accessible Learning
Braille Publication Delays
Educational equity for visually impaired students emerged as a primary concern. S. Diwakar, a professor representing the Blind Teachers’ Association, noted a persistent lag between the release of standard textbooks and their Braille equivalents. He explained that updates to subject matter reach conventional presses first, while the Braille press suffers from procedural delays that stall student progress. The Minister committed to immediate rectification of this production timeline.
School Logistics and Maintenance
The summit also addressed the physical state of educational institutions. S. Gnanasekaran of the Tamil Nadu Higher Secondary School Headmasters’ Association noted a critical shortage of support staff. Significant concerns include:
- Lack of dedicated security personnel for campus safety.
- Absence of cleaning staff to maintain hygiene standards.
- Inadequate funding allocations that fail to meet the operational needs of higher secondary facilities.
Gnanasekaran warned that these logistical failures directly harm student enrollment rates. Minister Rajmohan concluded the session by promising a comprehensive review of these demands, stating his intent to address as many grievances as the department allows.
Source: The Hindu — News
