The State Level-V (Ex-Cadre) Teachers Mahasangha has protested faulty questions papers set for the Orissa Teachers Eligibility Test (OTET) and the decision to conduct it online for the first time.
Alleging that the organisation was conducting the test in a wayward manner, harassing lakhs of teachers writing the examination and putting them in great difficulties, the Mahasangha demanded intervention of the authorities in the BSE, Cuttack, School and Mass Education (SME) Secretary, SME Minister and CM. It warned of taking to streets with all the OTET examinees if action was not initiated against the organisation.
Notably, the OTET is conducted by the Board of Secondary Education , Cuttack and as per rule, it should be held twice a year.
However, while the BSE is not able to conduct the test in regular manner, the latest OTET had been conducted on January 1, 2019 after a gap of two years. But, the test was cancelled all of a sudden citing question paper leak.
The Mahasangha alleged that while the OTET was cancelled, the BSE authorities took the decision unilaterally by which about 1, 26,000 teachers who had prepared for the examination were punished.
The BSE even did not hold a probe as to who leaked the question papers before cancelling the test. Challenging the decision of the BSE, the OTET examinees moved the Orissa High Court.
Finally, the BSE outsourced an organisation outside the State to conduct the OTET from August 5 which was held in three seating in a day. However, the question papers are faulty.
Besides, it has been an online test for the first time. While the teachers have no knowledge of computer, they are made to take the test online. In certain far-flung and interior areas, the examinees have to cover a distance of 250 km to take the online test.
Mahasangha president Sibalal sahu, general secretary Bulu Behera, working president Trilochan Kar, Ramakanta Nayak, Amiya Kumar Baral, Susant Jyotish alleged that the BSE has gone vengeful which is proved by the way the test is conducted and demanded that the question papers be assessed by educationists.