Aasam TET : ASDC to oppose TET

Aasam TET : ASDC to oppose TETCorrespondent
 DIPHU, Feb 28 – The principal Opposition party of Karbi Anglong, the ASDC has announced its decision to oppose the outcome of the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET). Robindra Rongpi, general secretary of the ASDC central committee told mediapersons here “through long lasting agitation we won our autonomy, but the Assam Government is snatching our bread and butter. If such a trend goes on, it will change the social, economic and demographic scenario”. Jotson Bey, former CEM of KAAC and a senior ASDC leader said that “after signing of the office memorandum of 1995 along with 15 departments, education was also transferred to KAAC with legislative and executive power, which has been amended in the Constitution’s Para 3A of Schedule D, but the present KAAC is not putting it into action”.
Jajot Sing Engti, former MLA of Bokajan and ASDC leader described the imposition of TET in autonomous Karbi Anglong district as “a dangerous move of the Assam Government in our district. We have nearly 22,000 unemployed youths and now due to the TET, around 1702 jobs will go to the outsiders creating more unemployment. Redundancy is the root cause of the ultra movement and the KAAC will have to bear the consequences if local tribes are denied job opportunities”.
Robindra Rongpi later said, “We have demanded immediately halt of TET implementation in Karbi Anglong. Our party will oppose TET and it necessary we will go all out to protect our interests”.
It may be mentioned that the TET has seriously jeopardised the prospects of getting of government jobs by the Karbis in their own land. If TET is enforced in Karbin Anglong, out of the total vacancy of 1702 hardly 18 or 4% posts will go the principal tribe the ‘Karbi’ who are the single largest population of Karbi Anglong.
Only 449 have qualified in TET from this district including other tribes and non-tribals. This includes lower, upper primary and middle grade, graduates both from arts and science stream. Majority of the existing vacancies i.e. ,1218 out of the 1702 is that of lower primary teachers, against which the district has produced 246 eligible candidates. For filling up of 203 vacancies of science and mathematics subjects, only 49 locals have crossed the eligibility test. The results on the one hand have revealed the true colour of the educational backwardness prevailing particularly among the scheduled tribes of this district on the other hand has created a situation where 95% of the teachers job under the administrative jurisdiction of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council will go to the non 6th Schedule candidates and that too non-residents of this autonomous district.

News : Assam Tribune (28.2.12)