Srinagar, Sept. 30 -- When Jammu and Kashmir Education Minister Sakina Itoo recently described teachers as the government's "dignity and priority" in the Legislative Assembly, her words rightly reflected the importance of respecting those who dedicate their lives to educating the younger generation.

The Minister reportedly emphasized that the controversy surrounding the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers was not merely a question of whether experienced teachers could sit for an examination. Rather, she presented it as a question of professional dignity, respect and the emotional well-being of teachers who have spent years serving the education system. The government's concern for the dignity of educators is ...