TET Mandatory: Govt Clarifies on TET, New Supreme Court Rules for Old Teachers Explain Job Security

TET Mandatory: For a long time, a pressing question has been haunting in-service teachers across the country: Is passing the ‘Teacher Eligibility Test’ (TET) mandatory to save their jobs? The anxiety was particularly high among those appointed before 2011, prior to the full implementation of NCTE guidelines and the RTE Act. Finally, the confusion has been cleared following the Supreme Court’s directive and the Central Education Ministry’s response in the Lok Sabha. The Centre has sent a clear message: TET is an essential qualification to maintain the quality of education.

Strict Stance of Supreme Court and Centre

In response to a query in the Lok Sabha, the Central Government stated that as per the Right to Education Act (RTE Act, 2009) and the NCTE notification of 2010, passing TET is the minimum and mandatory qualification for teaching from classes I to VIII. The Supreme Court has explicitly ruled that TET is an ‘Essential Qualification’. This means no teacher can continue in service indefinitely without this qualification, regardless of whether they had passed TET at the time of their appointment or not. The government has confirmed that it will abide by the apex court’s order and no separate national policy or exemption is being formulated for those appointed before 2011.

Service Tenure and TET Deadline

Invoking Article 142 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court has issued specific guidelines for in-service teachers. These rules apply based on the remaining tenure of service:

• Condition to Save Job: Teachers who have more than 5 years of service left before retirement must pass the TET examination within 2 years from the date of the court’s judgement to retain their jobs. This has been made mandatory for this group.
• Relief for Teachers Near Retirement: Teachers who have less than 5 years of service remaining have been granted some relief. This specific group will not lose their jobs even if they do not pass TET. They are permitted to continue working until their superannuation.

Major Hurdle in Promotion

While there is some exemption regarding job security for senior teachers or those near retirement, the rules regarding promotion are extremely strict. According to the court and government directives:

• Irrespective of whether the remaining service tenure is less or more than 5 years, no in-service teacher will receive a promotion without passing TET.
• Acquiring TET qualification is now mandatory for everyone seeking promotion.

The government has made it clear that no new rules will be created outside this court verdict. Consequently, teachers are left with no option but to prepare for and clear the TET examination.