The suspension of three government teachers for taking the demand for exemption from the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers to the attention of the Central Government has sparked controversy in Andhra Pradesh. Critics have alleged that the Coalition Government resorted to punitive action against the teachers simply because they travelled to Delhi to raise teachers’ concerns with Union Minister Prahlad Joshi.
Three Teachers Suspended
The government suspended STU district president Sangameswara Reddy and YSR Teachers Association representatives Venkatanath Reddy and Amarnath Reddy. The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) questioned whether meeting the Union Minister along with YSRCP MPs and MLCs to highlight the problems faced by lakhs of teachers could be considered a wrongdoing.
Government Cites DSC Rally Participation
According to the YSRCP, the suspension orders issued by the Kadapa District Education Officer (DEO) cited participation in a rally related to alleged irregularities in the DSC recruitment process as one of the reasons for the action.
However, the concerned teachers reportedly maintain that they neither submitted any representation regarding the DSC issue nor participated in the said rally. The YSRCP has also reiterated these claims while questioning the basis of the suspension orders.
YSRCP Alleges Vindictive Action
The YSRCP alleged that taking disciplinary action against teachers for approaching the Central Government over their legitimate concerns reflects a vindictive attitude. The party demanded that the government immediately revoke the suspension of all three teachers.
Warning to the Government
The YSRCP warned that if such action against teachers who raise legitimate issues continues, teachers’ associations would respond appropriately and teach the government a lesson. The controversy has once again brought attention to the concerns of in-service teachers over TET requirements and the manner in which the government is dealing with employee and teachers’ associations.
