Teachers prefix ‘driver’ to their social media identities

After Chowkidaar prefix on social media names by theBJP supporters during the Lok Sabha elections, the Teacher Eligibility Test(TET) qualified teachers in Assam have added 'Driver' prefix to their names onthe platforms. The move came in protest against Assam Education MinisterSiddhartha Bhattacharya's recent comment regarding the TET qualified teachers.

It may be mentioned here that in a recent interviewwith the All India Radio (AIR) Guwahati, the Education Minister had comparedthe certificate of TET qualified teachers with driving license.

"Just like the BJP supporters as well as members have added Chowkidaar prefix in support of PM Modi's fight against corruption, we have added Driver before our names in protest against Education Minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya's recent comment. The Minister has hurt our sentiments. However, we are not disrespecting the driving profession," said a TET qualified teacher.

The teachers have been continuously demanding to regularise their jobs. Clearing the TET is mandatory for getting teaching jobs in government schools and around 41,000 TET-qualified teachers are working under Sarba Siksha Abhijan in Assam on contract.