Ferozepur: The Democratic Teachers Front (DTF), Punjab, on Tuesday announced that it would intensify its agitation against the state govt’s decision to hold an in-service Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), alleging that the govt had gone back on promises made to teachers.
At a meeting of the organisation’s state committee held under the leadership of state president Vikram Dev Singh, the DTF decided to continue its protest against what it termed the “forced imposition” of the test and the govt’s alleged use of the Supreme Court’s ruling as a shield.
DTF state general secretary Mahendra Kaurwali said the Punjab govt had earlier promised to file a review petition on the TET issue and bring a resolution in the Vidhan Sabha, but had failed to act on either demand.
Kaurwali alleged that the govt had “cheated” teachers by reneging on its assurances and proceeding with the in-service TET.
Following deliberations, the DTF state committee decided that its members would boycott the in-service TET examination scheduled for April 19 and urged teachers to remain united in the agitation.
The organisation also announced that it would join district-level effigy-burning protests on April 6 and 7 against what it called the minister’s breach of promise. Further, the DTF said it would take out a ‘Vaada Khilafi March’ towards the chief minister’s residence in Sangrur on April 11 to protest against the govt’s alleged backtracking.
The organisation appealed to all teachers, irrespective of whether they were TET-qualified or non-TET, to unite and participate in the protest, and also urged other teachers’ organisations to join the march.
