Center changes rules: private school teachers will now also participate in the census

The statement by the Minister of Government of Tamil Nadu caused a stir in the state's political life. Expressing dissatisfaction with students' hairstyles, Minister Jagdishwari stated that children with inappropriate haircuts should have their heads completely shaved.

Minister Jagdishwari made this statement at the government primary school Ayyan Reddippatti, located near Kariyapatti in the Virudhunagar district. She attended the event as part of the ceremony for laying a new school fence.

Besides Minister Jagdishwari, Minister Vanniarasu and District Collector of Virudhunagar Saranya Ari were present at the event. Speaking at the event, Minister Jagdishwari expressed strong disapproval of the students' clothing and manners.

She noted that modern schoolchildren adopt hairstyles that make them look like 'thugs.' The Minister emphasized that she finds it very unpleasant to see such hairstyles on children. She questioned whether their hairstyles are appropriate for schoolchildren. She stated: 'If the hairstyle is not good, then shave the head completely. There is nothing wrong with that. I think like a mother regarding my child, so they will cut their hair correctly.'

Other ministers of Tamil Nadu supported Jagdishwari's statement, arguing that her words showed maternal love and sincere concern for student discipline. They called on the public to understand the true intentions of her speech and not jump to conclusions.

Furthermore, the minister raised the issue of the role of parents. She stated that the beginning of irresponsibility often lies at home. Parents must realize that by giving children freedom in such advanced styles, they themselves become the cause of mistakes.

The Uttar Pradesh Secondary Education Department has appealed to candidates participating in the recruitment for over 17 thousand teachers for vacant positions in government secondary schools, urging them to ignore false and misleading information.

The Department clarified that some individuals are deliberately sowing misunderstandings regarding this recruitment, and they have no connection to the field of education. Candidates were advised to base their preparation solely on official announcements and government decrees.

According to the Department's data, the announcement about filling over 17 thousand vacant positions was issued by the Education Personnel Selection Commission. The goal of this initiative is to address the shortage of teachers in government secondary schools and ensure students receive quality education. The Department emphasized that the hiring process is conducted in accordance with established rules and the educational qualifications required for teaching positions.

The Secondary Education Department reported that due to the inclusion of the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) in the requirements for this vacancy for the first time, special measures were taken in the announcement of the Education Personnel Selection Commission upon the government's instruction. As part of these measures, selected candidates will need to pass and provide the TET certificate by June 30, 2027. The Department also informed that the government has instructed the Commission to conduct another TET exam soon. This is to give candidates an opportunity to take the TET within the stipulated timeframe. The Department urged candidates to avoid misconceptions spread about this provision and to continue preparing according to official instructions.

The Department also explained that the educational and teaching qualifications for teachers are set by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), and these requirements are legally binding. According to the Department, when hiring teachers, established compliance standards must be observed in accordance with Supreme Court rulings and current legal norms. It is in this context that provisions regarding the inclusion of TET as a qualification were introduced. The Department insists that candidates should not allow any misunderstandings regarding the eligibility conditions for the recruitment process. For accurate information about the recruitment, candidates should rely only on the Commission's announcements and official government directives.

The Secondary Education Department also clarified the situation regarding the requirement of a B.Ed. degree. According to the Department, the B.Ed. qualification was previously mandated for relevant teaching positions and must be adhered to in the current recruitment according to prevailing rules. The Department urged B.Ed. graduates to view this recruitment as an important opportunity and to continue their preparation. The Department believes that suitable candidates should focus on the selection process instead of wasting time and opportunities due to false information.

The Department provided important information regarding the recruitment for Trained Graduate Teacher (TGT) positions. The Department stated that there are no upper age limits for appointment to TGT positions. It was reported that the government will issue a written order on this matter. Furthermore, to ensure regularity and orderliness in recruitment, the government has set a deadline for submitting vacancy requests. The Department noted that annually, a request for vacancies must be submitted to the Education Personnel Selection Commission by May 31 based on available vacancies as of April 1. This system is designed to make the hiring process regular and guarantee the presence of teachers in schools.

The Secondary Education Department also stated that some people are spreading misunderstandings about the recruitment process that have nothing to do with taking the exam or a direct connection to the field of education. The Department warned that such individuals may mislead youth for their narrow interests and harm their interests. The Department urged candidates not to trust unverified information and to verify false statements spread through social media or other channels through official sources. Before making any decision related to the recruitment, it is crucial to study the terms of the announcement and government decrees.

The Secondary Education Department reiterated that the goal of the initiative to fill over 17 thousand vacant positions in government secondary schools is to increase the number of teachers and provide students with a better educational environment. The Department urged all eligible young people, including B.Ed. graduates, to take advantage of the recruitment process and approach exam preparation seriously. The Department's message is that candidates should focus on their preparation rather than being distracted by rumors and false propaganda, relying on official information.

Erkinjon Turdimov, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Science, put forward a proposal to review the necessity of obtaining a separate ministry license for private schools and kindergartens in Uzbekistan. He believes that licensing should be abolished if the institution has already passed inspections from sanitary, construction, and fire services.

Turdimov voiced this position during a meeting held in Samarkand. In his opinion, since specialized services inspect facilities before their opening and confirm compliance with safety requirements, an additional license from the ministry becomes redundant. The Minister stated: 'If the SES, construction, fire, and other relevant services have inspected the facility and issued permission, why does the ministry issue a license? What exactly does it check? Overall, licensing by the ministry upon the opening of private kindergartens and schools should be abolished.'

However, it was noted that the inspections by specialized services cover only part of the necessary conditions. For example, the fire supervision assesses fire safety, the sanitary-epidemiological service monitors compliance with sanitary norms, and the construction inspection controls the accessibility of buildings for people with disabilities. These conclusions are part of the licensing procedure, not a replacement for it, as the ministry itself requests the necessary documents according to the license passport approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 403 of June 30, 2025.

Licensing requirements go beyond the condition of the building and include organizational aspects of the educational process. They regulate parameters such as the number of students in kindergarten groups and school classes, the ratio of teachers to pupils, teacher qualifications, level of foreign language knowledge, as well as curricula and programs.

If separate licensing is abolished, there will be a need to determine who will monitor compliance with these requirements and at what stage. Since the obligation to obtain a license for non-state educational organizations is enshrined in the Law 'On Education' (Articles 9 and 57), a complete abolition of the requirement will require amendments to the legislation, not just a change in the licensing procedure. At present, this remains only a proposal for review.

The meeting also discussed the difficulties faced by entrepreneurs in the private education sector. Turdimov criticized officials who fail to assist in solving these problems and warned that ministry employees who do not perform their duties may lose their positions. Furthermore, issues related to construction documentation in the Samarkand region were reviewed, where, according to the head of the regional construction department, 522 problematic issues were identified, five of which relate to private educational institutions. At the end of the meeting, it was announced the intention to create an electronic platform for educational institutions to submit appeals.