Agartala, Jul 12, 2023, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala , Jul 12: Chief Minister of Tripura Dr Manik Saha said the State Government is contemplating moving the Supreme Court relating to the Selection Test for Graduate Teachers (STGT).

Dr Saha while replying to a Question and a 'Calling Attention Notice' raised by Opposition leader Animesh Debbarma on Wednesday - the 3rd day of the ongoing Budget 2023-24 FY - said, the STGT was conducted for recruitment in 230 vacant posts, however owing to a court verdict on reservation policy, the process remained stalled, at present. No final decision was taken relating to the STGT. 

In this connection, the Chief Minister also informed the House the State is planning to move SLP to the Supreme Court.

The 'Calling Attention Notice' was related to Government's initiatives to tackle the teachers' crisis.

During his reply, Dr Saha highlighted the importance of educational infrastructure and the requirements of adequate teachers in schools for expanding the ambit of quality education in the State. 

He acknowledged the scarcity of teachers in the State. Dr Saha said there is no school which is running with a single teacher only.

The chief minister said, the crisis of teachers is mainly owing to Retirement. Moreover, the termination of 10323 teachers as per the Supreme Court verdict is another reason.

In the 1st half of today's session most of the Questions raised by the MLAs were related to the education sector, especially the lack of an adequate number of teachers in schools in the State.

The MLAs also raised Questions on the fee structures of different Private Schools in the State including in villages under TTAADC.

Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha who also holds the Education portfolio, informed the House that the State was facing a shortage of a total of 5155 Teachers.

The Chief Minister also said the government conducts teachers' recruitment every year as a routine process.

"Teachers'Recruitment Board, Tripura (TRBT) is regularly conducting Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) and the Education Department is deputing the selected candidates in Under Graduate Teacher (I-V), Graduate Teacher (IX-X) and Post Graduate Teacher (XI-XII) categories", the Chief Minister said.

He also pointed out that Special Educators were inducted for the first time in the State.

The Chief Minister informed the House that a total 6766 teachers including 88 Special Educators were recruited during the last five years.