75,000 Teachers May Retake TET Exam In October

Teachers who have already cleared the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) in Madhya Pradesh may have to take the examination again in October. Despite the state government's efforts to seek exemption for serving teachers from the Supreme Court, no relief has been granted so far.

The Madhya Pradesh government has moved ahead with preparations for a fresh TET examination, leaving teachers who had already cleared the eligibility test facing another examination. More than 75,000 teachers had already appeared for TET from 2005-2008.

In the case of primary teachers, the Primary School Teacher Eligibility Test (PSTET) 2020 was conducted earlier and became the basis for subsequent teacher selection. The MP High Court has also recorded that teachers who qualified TET-2020 were subsequently required to appear in a separate selection examination after changes in the recruitment rules.

The state later conducted another TET examination, and teachers who had already obtained eligibility through the earlier examinations are now questioning why they should have to appear again when they are already serving teachers.

The School Education Department in July again sought the intervention of the Supreme Court regarding teachers who have already taken the exam. The teachers who had already appeared are in limbo after the DPI's approach and now the exam date issued by the ESB.

Teachers association acting president Upendra Kaushal said that for MP teachers, the immediate issue is not the deadline but whether their earlier TET qualification will be recognised for compliance with the latest SC directions.

Under the Supreme Court's directions, teachers appointed before the RTE Act, 2009, who had more than five years of service remaining as of September 1, 2025, are required to qualify TET to continue in service. Teachers with less than five years left before retirement were given a limited exemption from the requirement for continuation in service, although TET remains relevant for promotion.

The Supreme Court's ruling has left many teachers in a state of uncertainty, and the state government's decision to conduct another TET examination has added to their woes. The teachers are now waiting for a final decision from the Supreme Court, which will determine their fate.

The issue has significant implications for the education sector in Madhya Pradesh, and the state government will have to find a solution to address the concerns of the teachers. The Supreme Court's directions are aimed at ensuring that teachers are qualified and eligible to teach, but the implementation of these directions should not cause undue hardship to serving teachers.

In conclusion, the fate of 75,000 teachers in Madhya Pradesh hangs in the balance as they wait for a decision from the Supreme Court. The state government's decision to conduct another TET examination has added to their uncertainty, and it remains to be seen how this issue will be resolved.