Tripura, December 20, 2023: On Wednesday, 2022 Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) qualified candidates, aspiring to secure placements in state government schools, once again besieged the chief minister’s residence in protest. Demanding a definitive statement from the chief minister on the protracted recruitment process, the agitating job seekers alleged a year-long silence on the issue since they successfully cleared the selection test for teaching positions.
Expressing their frustrations, the protesters called for the immediate recruitment of 361 graduate teachers who have qualified for the positions. The candidates highlighted that a significant promise was made by the former education minister, Ratan Lal Nath, and other members of the state cabinet before the 2023 assembly elections. However, despite the assurances, no tangible progress has been made to address the long-standing issue.
A spokesperson for the protesting candidates stated, “Our only demand is the swift recruitment of 361 graduate teachers in state government schools who have qualified for the examination over a year ago. The current chief minister, who also holds the education portfolio, has been conspicuously silent on this matter. Despite repeated requests, we have failed to secure a meeting with him.”
Expressing disappointment in the lack of attention to the growing crisis, the spokesperson remarked, “It is disheartening that the chief minister, who also serves as the state education minister, is ignoring this critical issue. The state education system is in shambles, with numerous schools facing severe staff shortages. Students are taking to the streets to protest, yet the government remains in denial, failing to take steps to employ those who have already met the qualifying criteria for the teaching positions.”
In response to the protest, a substantial contingent of police and Tripura State Rifles (TSR) forces were deployed to disperse the demonstrators and prevent them from continuing their protest in front of the chief minister’s residence. The clash between the protesters and law enforcement underscores the heightened tensions surrounding the delayed recruitment process and the growing frustration among qualified candidates seeking employment opportunities in Tripura’s education sector.
