TET Mandate: Teachers Write to NCTE Again, Seek Exemption in Mandatory TET Case

TET Mandate: A West Bengal teachers’ organization has now stepped in to oppose the Supreme Court’s verdict making the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) mandatory for primary and upper primary teachers. The West Bengal Primary Trained Teachers’ Association (WBPTTA) has submitted a detailed memorandum to the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) seeking its intervention. This is reportedly a “humble reminder,” as a previous letter was already sent on October 4, 2025.

Key Contents of the Memorandum

The letter, sent to NCTE Chairperson Professor Pankaj Arora, expresses deep concern over the mandatory TET rule. The association claims this ruling directly affects around 40 lakh teachers nationwide and nearly 3 lakh teachers in West Bengal alone, many of whom have been teaching for a long time. In this situation, the NCTE should intervene immediately and take a “proper measure” before the Supreme Court, so that lakhs of teachers can be relieved from this extreme uncertainty.

Why This Urgent Appeal?

This unprecedented crisis originated from a Supreme Court judgment on September 1, 2025. In that verdict, passing the TET was made mandatory even for in-service teachers. According to the teachers’ association, this ruling has plunged lakhs of primary and upper primary teachers, who have been working diligently for years, into extreme mental anguish. The letter states that the judgment has had such a profound impact on teachers that the situation has become extremely alarming.

Severe Impact on Teachers

The association reported in its letter that, according to national media reports, some teachers in various states have resorted to sui*ide, unable to bear the “mental anxiety and stress” created by this verdict. Furthermore, there have been reports of some teachers dying from sudden heart attacks.

According to the association, teachers are living in such deep anxiety that they are losing the “proper mental state” required for teaching in the classroom. This environment of fear and uncertainty has disrupted the lives of lakhs of teachers.

Next Steps and Hopes

The West Bengal Primary Trained Teachers’ Association expressed hope that the NCTE and its relevant departments will understand the gravity of the matter. They are hoping that the NCTE will swiftly present the teachers’ situation to the Supreme Court and find a solution. The association’s General Secretary, Ashok Rudra, stated that their main goal is to free the teachers from this “anxiety” and mental stress as soon as possible and to pave the way for them to continue teaching with dignity.