Leaders of the Forum of Registered Teacher Organisations (FORTO) have launched a Statewide campaign from Friday in support of their demand that the in-service teachers be given permanent exemption from the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET).

They submitted representations to Members of Parliament urging them to amend the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 to provide permanent exemption from the TET for in-service teachers.

Forum’s chairman Karanam Harikrishna said that petitions in this regard were being submitted to Members of Parliament across the State.

He said the in-service teachers had joined the government service by fulfilling the eligibility criteria prescribed under the recruitment rules prevailing at the time of their appointment.

It is unjust to compel teachers, who have been rendering quality education to students for several years, to appear for the TET again, the forum members said, addign that mandatory TET for serving teachers was causing mental stress and creating uncertainty regarding their job security.

The leaders said they would continue to submit petitions till the end of June and should the need arise, they would launch protests.