Teachers Protest against TET Mandate: Thousands of Teachers to Hit Streets to Save Their Jobs!

Teachers Protest: West Bengal’s teaching community is facing an unprecedented crisis following a landmark Supreme Court verdict. The ruling, dated September 1, 2025, mandates that all teachers whose recruitment notification was published before July 27, 2011, must pass the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) within the next two years. With thousands of teachers now at risk of losing their jobs, teacher unions are gearing up for a major protest.

The Origin of the Crisis: The Supreme Court’s Verdict

According to the Supreme Court’s directive, the concerned teachers are required to clear the TET examination by September 1, 2027. This verdict has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the careers of thousands of educators, especially senior teachers who have been in the profession for nearly 34-35 years. The ruling has sparked widespread anxiety and anger within the teaching community, who view it as a grave injustice and a disregard for their years of experience.

The Roar of Protest: Teachers Take to the Streets

Teacher unions have initiated a two-pronged battle against this verdict – both in the courtroom and on the streets. Bhaskar Ghosh, the convener of Sangrami Joutha Mancha and a prominent leader of the Usti United Primary Teachers’ Welfare Association (UUPTWA), has announced that they have already filed a review petition in the Supreme Court. One of the country’s top legal minds, Gopal Subramanium, has been roped in to argue on behalf of the teachers.

However, the fight is not confined to the courts. Under the banner of UUPTWA, a call for a mass movement has been issued.

• Protest March Date: October 15, 2025
• Venue: Raja Subodh Mallick Square, Kolkata
• Time: 12:00 PM

The protest march will proceed to Rani Rashmoni Road. From there, two delegations will submit deputations to the Governor and the West Bengal Board of Primary Education. In Bhaskar Ghosh’s words, “The street protest has begun. If we do not get justice through legal channels, we will build a nationwide movement to compel the Parliament to amend the law.”

What are the Teachers’ Core Demands?

The teachers’ movement is centered around three primary demands:

• No Retrospective Effect: Legal decisions should not be applied retroactively to past events.
• Valuation of Experience: The extensive experience of senior teachers must be duly recognized and respected.
• Amendment of the RTE Act: If necessary, the Right to Education (RTE) Act should be amended to protect the interests of the teachers.

The Path Forward

The teacher unions have issued a clear warning that this is merely the beginning of their agitation. If the legal battle does not yield a favorable outcome, they are prepared to organize a nationwide movement. Their goal is to exert pressure on the government to amend the law in Parliament, thereby securing the future of thousands of teachers in West Bengal. In this critical situation, a call has been made for all primary and upper-primary teachers in the state to unite and join this fight.