TET and STGT aspirants in Tripura protested against TRBT over alleged answer key errors and delayed results, seeking CM Manik Saha’s intervention as their last hope. With growing frustration and age barriers looming, they demand urgent government action to resolve recruitment and legal delays.
Amid rising frustration and despair, hundreds of teaching job aspirants in Tripura, who appeared for the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) and the 2022 Selection Test for Graduate Teachers (STGT), staged a strong protest on Monday against the Teachers Recruitment Board, Tripura (TRBT). The protestors cited serious grievances, including alleged errors in answer keys, unresolved objections, and prolonged delays in the recruitment process.
The agitators initially gathered in front of Siksha Bhavan in Agartala, demanding prompt intervention by the state government. However, after receiving no response from the TRBT authorities, the protestors marched towards the official residence of Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, seeking his direct involvement as their “last hope.”
Among the protestors were specially-abled candidates, one of whom spoke emotionally to the media, shedding light on the hardships faced by many like her. “We pointed out multiple errors in the answer keys and provided solid academic references to validate our claims. But the TRBT not only rejected them outright, they told us to approach the courts. How can candidates from economically weaker sections afford to fight legal battles?” she asked.
She further said that the recent press conference by the TRBT chairman only deepened their disillusionment. “Many candidates are on the verge of exceeding the age limit and won’t be eligible to apply in the next recruitment cycle. Those who cleared the cut-off marks are living in fear—if grace marks are later added to the disputed questions, their recruitment may be stalled or even cancelled.”
The STGT candidates, on the other hand, expressed their frustration over a delay of almost three years in the publication of results. “We appeared for the exam back in 2022. Despite clearing the exam, we are still waiting because of a legal deadlock. The state has filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court, but there is no clarity on when we will get our appointment letters,” said one aspirant.
As their frustration mounted, the protestors moved toward the Chief Minister’s residence, hoping for a direct assurance. However, they were neither granted a meeting with the CM nor provided any commitment from government representatives. The aspirants waited for hours but ultimately received no concrete response.
The situation grew tense, prompting police intervention. Additional Superintendent of Police, West Tripura, Dhruba Nath, confirmed that around 20 protestors were detained for demonstrating without prior permission. “Some TET aspirants had gathered near the Chief Minister’s residence with their demands. Since they didn’t have any permission for the gathering, they were shifted from the spot. Around 20 individuals were detained,” he stated.
The incident has triggered widespread concern among unemployed youth and teaching job aspirants in Tripura, who now fear that bureaucratic delays and administrative apathy may shatter their dreams permanently.
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Education sector observers in the state have also criticized the handling of the situation, calling for transparent mechanisms in recruitment, grievance redressal, and timely communication from TRBT. “It’s not just about jobs; it’s about trust in the system. The government must treat these aspirants with empathy and urgency,” said a retired educator who has been following the recruitment developments closely.
As of now, the aspirants continue to place their hopes on Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, urging him to intervene directly and provide clear solutions to the recruitment impasse. Whether or not the government will respond meaningfully in the coming days remains to be seen.
