Grand Teachers Alliance calls for TNA test boycott

RAWALPINDI: The online Teachers Need Assessment (TNA) test system has hit a roadblock in Punjab, Pakistan, particularly in the Rawalpindi division.

The system, designed to evaluate Education Department staff, faced a dismal 3% participation rate from primary teachers on October 28, despite efforts from education officers to encourage participation.

The Grand Teachers Alliance has rejected the TNA test, calling for a complete boycott. This decision was made after the Education Department issued show-cause notices to 1,000 teachers, withheld their November salaries, and requested police assistance from deputy commissioners.

Teachers have refused to receive the notices, stating they won’t attend personal hearings.

In a shocking error, a show-cause notice was issued to the late Majid Ali, a teacher who passed away two years ago. His family is seeking answers, questioning why the department issued a notice to a deceased person.

This incident has left Education Department officials in disarray. The TNA test aims to assess teachers’ competence and training needs, but critics argue the timing is questionable, suggesting the government is prioritizing the privatization of public education due to financial constraints.

The test has been made compulsory for educators across primary, middle, and high school levels.