Teacher Eligibility Test: A recent Supreme Court ruling has made the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) mandatory for all teachers, sparking a nationwide debate. The basis for this judgment is the Right to Education Act, 2009, which recognizes quality education as a fundamental right for children. Qualified teachers are essential to ensure quality education, and TET is a benchmark for verifying that qualification. However, a question has arisen: is the 2017 amendment, upon which this ruling is based, actually valid? This is the topic of our discussion today.
The Core of the Controversy: The 2017 Amendment
According to the Right to Education Act, 2009, the central government was given the power to change or amend the rules of this act. Based on this authority, necessary changes were made from time to time. However, a significant amendment was made to this act in 2012, which stated that the central government could not introduce any new amendments three years after its implementation. According to this rule, which came into effect in June 2012, there was no opportunity to bring any further amendments after June 2015.
However, it is seen that in 2017, the central government introduced a new amendment. It stipulated that all teachers employed on or before March 31, 2015, must acquire the minimum qualifications, and they were given four years to do so. This amendment directly violates the 2012 rule, as it was introduced nearly two years after the deadline. According to legal experts, since the central government has violated its own established rule, this 2017 amendment is invalid.
Lack of Infrastructure and Training
As per the Right to Education Act, 2009, qualified teachers alone are not sufficient for quality education; school infrastructure, student-teacher ratio, libraries, playgrounds, etc., are also essential. But many schools across the country lack these infrastructural facilities. Furthermore, it was the responsibility of both the central and state governments to arrange for adequate teacher training, but there has been a noticeable lack of initiative in this area. The question then is, how reasonable is it to place the entire responsibility solely on the qualifications of teachers?
Future Steps
Legal battles regarding this issue are already being prepared in various quarters. According to lawyers, this legal flaw in the 2017 amendment could give the case a new direction. If this amendment is proven to be invalid, the decision to make TET mandatory will also come under question. It now remains to be seen what turn this legal fight takes in the future.
This matter is not just crucial for teachers but also for the future of the country’s education system. Please share your valuable opinions in the comments and share this important information with others.
