The teacher shortage in Tripura is more severe than official figures indicate, according to TET-qualified protesters demanding immediate recruitment. Speaking to Enewstime Desk reporter during Monday’s agitation, one of the demonstrators, identified himself as Prantik, claimed that over 4,000 teaching posts remain vacant while more than 370 government schools function with a single teacher, a crisis worsened by the deployment of teachers for census duty.
Teacher shortage takes centre stage during TET protest
Agartala: The ongoing agitation by Teacher Eligibility Test (TET)-qualified candidates has shifted attention from delayed recruitment to what protesters describe as a worsening teacher shortage across Tripura’s government schools.
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Speaking to the Enewstime Desk outside the Teachers’ Recruitment Board, Tripura (TRBT) office on Monday, one of the agitators, Prantik, alleged that prolonged delays in teacher recruitment have intensified the staffing crisis in schools. He argued that while qualified candidates remain unemployed, educational institutions across the state continue to struggle with an inadequate teaching workforce.
According to him, the shortage has reached a point where immediate recruitment is necessary not only to provide employment but also to ensure uninterrupted classroom teaching.
‘More than 4,000 teaching posts remain vacant’
Prantik claimed that the Elementary Education Department currently has more than 4,000 vacant teaching posts. Despite these vacancies, he alleged, the recruitment process for TET-qualified candidates has remained pending for nearly two years.
He questioned why the merit list has not yet been published when schools are reportedly facing an acute shortage of teachers.
According to the protesters, thousands of qualified candidates have already cleared the eligibility examination and are ready to join government service. They argued that filling the existing vacancies would immediately strengthen the state’s school education system.
Over 370 schools allegedly functioning with a single teacher
Highlighting what he described as one of the most alarming aspects of the crisis, Prantik claimed that more than 370 government schools in Tripura are currently operating with only one teacher.
If the figure is accurate, it indicates that a single teacher is responsible for teaching multiple classes while simultaneously managing examinations, administrative work, student records and other school-related responsibilities.
The protesters said such staffing levels inevitably affect classroom learning and place an enormous burden on teachers posted in remote and rural schools.
They maintained that timely recruitment could substantially ease this pressure and improve educational outcomes.
Census duty has further reduced classroom strength
According to Prantik, the staffing crisis has become more severe following the deployment of teachers for census-related work from July 2.
He claimed that many teachers have been assigned census duties, leaving schools with even fewer staff members to conduct regular classes.
In some schools, he alleged, two out of four teachers have been deputed for census work, leaving only two teachers to manage the entire institution.
The protesters clarified that they were not opposing the census exercise itself.
Instead, they argued that the government should have ensured adequate staffing before assigning teachers to additional responsibilities.
They maintained that if vacant teaching posts had already been filled, schools would have been better equipped to absorb temporary deployments without affecting classroom instruction.
Recruitment delay despite mounting demand for teachers
Prantik also questioned why recruitment has not progressed despite the reported shortage of teachers across government schools.
He pointed out that TET-qualified candidates appeared for their examination well before candidates for Post Graduate Teacher (PGT) recruitment.
However, he claimed that PGT candidates have already received appointment offers, while TET-qualified candidates are still waiting for publication of the merit list.
According to the protesters, the delay has not only prolonged unemployment among qualified candidates but has also deprived schools of much-needed teachers.
Protesters seek immediate publication of merit list
The demonstrators urged the Teachers’ Recruitment Board, Tripura, and the state government to immediately publish the merit list and complete the recruitment process.
They said prompt recruitment would serve a dual purpose—providing employment to qualified candidates and addressing the growing shortage of teachers in government schools.
Prantik said the agitation would continue until the authorities announce a definite timeline for publication of the merit list and issuance of appointment letters.
Candidates from Belonia, Sabroom and several other parts of the state travelled to Agartala to participate in Monday’s protest, demanding that the recruitment process be completed without further delay.
Teacher shortage becomes key issue in recruitment debate
The claims made by Prantik have added a significant dimension to the ongoing TET recruitment movement by linking delayed appointments with the operational challenges faced by government schools.
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If the vacancy figures cited by the protesters are officially confirmed, they could intensify discussions over teacher recruitment, staffing patterns and the functioning of government schools in Tripura.
Note: The figures relating to teacher vacancies, the number of single-teacher schools and the impact of census duty were stated by TET-qualified protester Prantik during his interaction with the Enewstime Desk. The Teachers’ Recruitment Board, Tripura, and the state government have not independently verified or responded to these specific claims.
