The Tripura TET Teachers Welfare Association has lodged a strong protest against the recent recruitment notification issued by the Teachers Recruitment Board of Tripura (TRBT) for the appointment of post-graduate teachers (STPGT) in various subjects.
The association, led by its secretary Ajay Paul, alleged anomalies in the advertisement, particularly regarding the status of the posts. Paul pointed out that in the 2022 TRBT recruitment notification, the posts were clearly mentioned as “permanent.” However, in the latest advertisement, the posts have been categorized as “temporary,” which has drawn sharp criticism from the association.
“Permanent Posts Cannot Be Declared Temporary”
Speaking on the matter, Ajay Paul questioned the rationale behind the change in wording. “Teachers are recruited against regular posts through a competitive examination. How can such posts be declared temporary? This is misleading and unfair to candidates,” he said.
The association has demanded that the TRBT immediately revise the advertisement and replace the term “temporary” with “permanent,” as was mentioned in the 2022 notification.
Call for Full Payscale from Day One
Highlighting broader concerns of TET-qualified teachers, Ajay Paul also raised objections to the state’s current system of fixed pay for the first five years of service. He argued that teachers recruited through competitive examinations against regular posts should receive the full payscale from the very first month, instead of being subjected to a fixed-pay system.
“This practice amounts to gross exploitation of teachers. It was introduced by the previous Left Front government and must be discontinued without delay,” he asserted.
Demand for Higher Grade Pay and Pending DA Installments
The welfare association further demanded an upward revision of the grade pay currently provided to TET-qualified teachers, terming it inadequate compared to the workload and responsibilities they shoulder.
Paul also pressed for the release of the 22 percent outstanding Dearness Allowance (DA) installments, which have been pending for a long time. He said that withholding DA installments was deeply unjust and affected the livelihoods of teachers across the state.
Opposition to Pay Review Committees
The association also criticized the existing system of constituting pay review committees, which was introduced under the Left Front regime. Ajay Paul stated that such committees delay the process of fair pay revision and fail to address the genuine concerns of employees.
Instead, the association has called for the immediate constitution of the 8th Pay Commission to ensure fair and systematic pay reforms for teachers and state government employees. “Only a proper pay commission can safeguard the rights of employees and bring parity in salaries,” Paul added.
Unified Voice of Teachers
The protest highlights the growing unrest among TET-qualified teachers in Tripura, who have long been demanding parity with other state employees. By raising concerns over the TRBT notification, pay structure, DA arrears, and grade pay, the association aims to push the government for urgent corrective measures.
The association has urged the authorities to address their grievances at the earliest to prevent discontent among the teaching community from escalating further.