Shimla: The controversy surrounding the state government’s decision to conduct a mandatory eligibility test for teachers in CBSE-affiliated government schools has now reached the Himachal Pradesh High Court, which has issued a notice to the state government seeking its response.
The petition has been filed by the Himachal Pradesh Joint Teachers’ Front, challenging the government order that makes it compulsory for serving teachers to clear a screening examination in order to teach in CBSE-patterned government schools. The matter was taken up earlier this week and has been listed before a division bench comprising Justice Vivek Singh Thakur and Justice Ranjan Sharma for further hearing.
In their plea, the teachers’ body has sought the cancellation of the order, arguing that the move is arbitrary and contrary to established service rules. The petition states that teachers currently working in government schools were appointed through a regular and legally notified recruitment process and have been discharging their duties for several years. Imposing an additional examination specifically for CBSE schools, they contend, amounts to altering their service conditions mid-career.
The decision has triggered opposition across various teaching cadres, from primary school teachers to senior secondary school principals and lecturers. Teachers have maintained that while they support efforts to improve academic standards, subjecting experienced staff to another qualifying test is unfair and demoralising.
On the other hand, the state government has defended the policy as part of a broader effort to enhance the quality of education in CBSE-affiliated government schools. According to the proposed plan, teachers would be selected for posting in CBSE schools through a screening test to ensure subject proficiency and alignment with CBSE academic standards.
However, the Joint Teachers’ Front argues that improving quality requires structured training programmes, better infrastructure, updated study material and adequate staffing rather than screening existing teachers through examinations.
Meanwhile, the proposed screening test has received a lacklustre response from teachers. Against around 5,500 posts identified for CBSE-affiliated government schools, only about 6,400 teachers have applied for the test. The Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education had extended the last date for submission of applications in an effort to increase participation, but even after the extension, the response reportedly fell short of expectations.
