Kerala teachers’ benefits withheld citing SC ruling on K-TET qualification; govt faces criticism

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: Under the guise of implementing the Supreme Court order making K-TET qualification mandatory, the government has blocked certain benefits provided to teachers. 

Education offices in many places have started withholding benefits, including increased salaries, for those promoted to head teachers and others. The reason given is that, based on the Supreme Court order of September 1, making K-TET mandatory for all teachers, no government order regarding promotions has yet been issued.

As a result, only the pre-promotion salaries are being allowed for headmasters and other promoted staff. In Pathanamthitta, the salary of a headmistress was withheld in this manner. Similar incidents were reported in Thalassery and Malappuram as well.

Although there are still two years to fully implement the court order, teachers in the Malappuram education office protested the withholding of benefits. Subsequently, the withheld salary had to be released to the educational officer.

Under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, several teachers’ unions, including BJP-affiliated NTU, KSTA, AKSTU, and AISTF, have approached the National Council for Teacher Education demanding a review of the retrospective enforcement of the K-TET qualification.

Meanwhile, in light of the Supreme Court order, the government has not given any specific instructions to stop the benefits of those who have already been promoted. It is alleged that officials are widely harassing teachers under the guise of a court order. AKSTU General Secretary OK Jayakrishnan also filed a complaint with General Education Minister V Sivankutty following reports of widespread benefit withholding.

Approximately 65,000 teachers affected

The apex court order mandates that all teachers with more than five years of service must possess K-TET certification. Those without it have until 2027 to obtain the qualification, failing which the court has ordered their dismissal. Approximately 65,000 teachers in Kerala are currently at risk of losing their jobs. While General Education Minister V. Sivankutty has indicated plans to approach the Supreme Court for relief, no concrete action has yet been taken.