WB gets relief to appoint trained teachers

PTI | New Delhi, 14 April, 2015:The Centre has extended the relaxation to West Bengal for appointment of trained teachers up to March 31 next year following a request from the state government. 

The relaxation was given under Right to Education Act for enrolment of teachers from class I to V and from class VI to VIII. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had in a letter to the HRD Minister Smriti Irani last month requested appointment of untrained teachers for a while as the state is continuing to face severe shortage of teachers in its schools. 

The letter cited the example of some states which have already got relief from the Centre. The RTE Act had set two deadlines ? March 31, 2013 for infrastructure and March 31, 2015 for teachers to attain minimum qualifications (pass Teachers Eligibility Test). 

As per a notification, HRD Ministry has said the state government shall conduct the teacher's eligibility test during the relaxed period in accordance with the guidelines of National Council of Teachers Education and persons passing out will be considered as appointment of teachers at elementary level.