New Delhi, – In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court of India has ruled that the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) is now compulsory for all school teachers, both new recruits and those already in service.
Key Highlights of the Ruling
For New Teachers:
Passing TET is now a prerequisite for appointment in government, government-aided, and private schools. Without clearing the test, no teacher appointment will be considered valid.
For Existing Teachers:
Teachers with more than 5 years of service left must clear TET within two years (by 2027). Failure will lead to compulsory retirement, though with pension and gratuity benefits.
Teachers with 5 years or less until retirement may continue without passing TET, but will not be eligible for promotions.
For Minority-Run Institutions:
The order does not immediately apply to schools run by minority communities. The issue has been referred to a larger Constitutional Bench for a final decision.
Promotions:
Even serving teachers cannot be promoted to higher posts such as Head Teacher or Senior Teacher unless they pass TET.
Impact and Reactions
The ruling has caused widespread concern among lakhs of in-service teachers who were appointed before the TET mandate was first introduced in 2011. Teacher associations fear large-scale retirements if support measures are not introduced.
Several state governments have begun responding:
Kerala has announced plans to challenge the ruling or seek modifications.
Tamil Nadu is preparing to conduct six TET exams in the next two years to give teachers sufficient opportunities.
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Odisha has assured teachers that it will provide support and explore solutions.
What’s Next
The Union and state governments are now expected to work out the modalities of implementing the order, including scheduling multiple TET exams and creating support systems for serving teachers. The larger Constitutional Bench will separately decide whether the mandate should also apply to minority-run institutions.
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