Will West Bengal Teachers Be Exempted From the TET Exam? Massive Relief for 3 Lakh State Teachers

TET Mandatory Ruling: A recent Supreme Court verdict has mandated that all primary and upper primary level teachers in West Bengal must pass the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET). This ruling has created a wave of panic and uncertainty among approximately 3 lakh teachers in the state. Many have even started preparing for the examination again. However, according to various experts, these teachers may not have to take the TET in the end. The reasons behind this are a special ordinance from the central government and the possibility of a review petition by the state.

The Shield of the Central Ordinance

The Right to Education (RTE) Act was implemented in 2010. According to the Supreme Court’s judgment, this act has a ‘retrospective effect,’ meaning teachers appointed before 2010 also fall under its purview. However, in 2009, the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development had granted West Bengal a special exemption. According to this exemption, along with other qualifications, the state’s teachers were exempt from the mandatory TET until March 31, 2014. Subsequently, based on an application from the state government, this exemption period was extended to 2016. Experts believe that this central ordinance could be the primary safeguard for the teachers.

The Importance of a Review Petition

Surprisingly, when the case was being heard in the Supreme Court, this matter of the special exemption was not brought to the court’s attention. Therefore, the state will have to file a review petition to reconsider this verdict. If the central ordinance and the exemption details are presented correctly in this petition, it may be possible to free the nearly three hundred thousand teachers from the obligation of taking the TET exam. Currently, no formal announcement has been made by any organization or the state government regarding the filing of a review petition. However, the teaching community and experts are hopeful that steps will be taken in this regard soon.

What Does the Future Hold for the Teachers?

At this moment, the future of the state’s teachers depends entirely on the next steps taken by the state. Here are some key points to consider:

• Review Petition: A review petition must be filed promptly in the Supreme Court from West Bengal, presenting the matter of the central exemption correctly.
• Legal Battle: If the review petition does not resolve the issue, a legal battle must be prepared for.

Overall, the issue concerning the TET for teachers in West Bengal is going through a complex legal process. Despite the existence of a central ordinance, the problem has deepened due to the lack of timely and appropriate action. It now remains to be seen when the state will file a review petition and secure the future of these 300,000 teachers. We will share any new updates on this matter as soon as they become available.