Gondia TET candidates protest after Hindi schools listed as Marathi medium

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Teacher recruitment for TET-qualified candidates is under way across the state through the Pavitra Portal. But affected candidates have alleged that the Gondia Zilla Parishad's education department listed Hindi-medium schools as Marathi-medium schools on the portal. They say this let Marathi-medium candidates get posts meant for Hindi-medium schools, while candidates who cleared TET through Hindi medium were wronged. The candidates are pursuing the matter at the ministry level and have indicated they are prepared to approach the court.

Large-scale teacher recruitment is under way statewide through the Pavitra Portal. All zilla parishads were asked to submit details of vacant posts in schools in their districts, and the respective education departments were responsible for uploading accurate information on the portal. Candidates allege that the Gondia Zilla Parishad's education department, in violation of the rules, listed Hindi-medium schools as Marathi-medium schools. They say this reduced the number of Hindi-medium posts by nearly 95. Meanwhile, the state government has already selected TET-qualified candidates for teaching posts.

The state education department released a selection list based on the available posts. At a press conference held today (16th), affected candidates alleged that because Hindi-medium schools in Gondia district were shown as Marathi medium, Marathi- and Bengali-medium candidates got teaching posts on those seats instead. A representation on the matter has been submitted to the Zilla Parishad's chief executive officer, the president, the vice-president and the education officer. The issue was also brought to the notice of the Commissioner of Education during a visit to Gondia district. Candidates alleged that for the past eight days the Gondia education department has been avoiding bringing this error to the government's notice, adopting a policy of delay, and giving postings to Pavitra Portal candidates through workshops. Saying they have been wronged by the Zilla Parishad's error, the affected candidates warned they would approach the court against the Zilla Parishad and the education department, or launch a major agitation, if the matter is not resolved. The warning was given by Lalitkumar Machirke, Gayatri Deepak Nagpure, Rajeshwari Mandas Basena, Pradeep Nagpure, Jyoti Raisingh Machirke, Sagar Lilhare, Devchand Lilhare, Radheshyam Giriya, Rita Lilhare, Sunil Wahane, Saroj Kumbhalwar, Sanjaykumar Sulakhe, Pravin Damahe, Pradeep Lilhare, Shivkumar Bisen, Ankit Suryavanshi, Rekha Patle, Chhaya Patle, Satyashila Katre, Madhuri Patle, Dileshwari Bopche and Sachi Tembhare.

The Gondia Zilla Parishad has taken note of complaints that Hindi-medium candidates did not get priority for vacant posts in the TET 2025 teacher recruitment process being conducted through the Pavitra Portal. In this regard, the Zilla Parishad's primary education department wrote to the Commissioner, Maharashtra State Council of Examination, Pune, on September 15, requesting appropriate action. The letter noted that for candidates whose entire education was in Hindi medium, the Hindi medium of instruction option for classes 6 to 8 and classes 9 to 10 was not made available for vacant posts in the Gondia Zilla Parishad on the Pavitra Portal, prompting the complaints.

Gondia and Salekasa are the two talukas in Gondia district with the largest number of Hindi-medium schools. Affected candidates said at the press conference that when they approached Zilla Parishad vice-president and education committee chairman Suresh Harshe to bring the wrong registration on the Pavitra Portal to his notice, he did not hear them out and instead turned them away, asking, "Are we sitting here just for you?" The incident has sparked debate over what exactly the education committee chairman's role is.