DCN News Network
Pune : A political storm has erupted across Maharashtra after the Supreme Court ruled that all teachers must clear the Teacher Eligibility Test, even those who joined service years before the Right to Education Act came into force. The verdict has shocked thousands of teachers and triggered massive anger among unions.
The court has made it mandatory for teachers in Zilla Parishads, Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and aided, partially aided and unaided schools to clear TET. Nearly one and a half lakh teachers will now have to take the exam. They have been given two years to pass. Failure to do so could lead to compulsory retirement.
Many of these teachers are close to retirement age, and unions say the order is unfair and impossible to comply with at this stage in their careers. Teachers across the state have launched a strong campaign demanding relief.
Several unions and multiple states have already filed review petitions in the Supreme Court. Maharashtra’s unions have pressed the state government to do the same. But sources say the Fadnavis government is not keen on filing a review petition. Officials believe the Supreme Court is unlikely to change its verdict.
Instead, the state is reportedly exploring a bigger move. Relief may come only if the central government amends the Right to Education Act. Union leaders claim they have started correspondence with the state government to push for this change.
The RTE Act, passed in 2009, includes a clause about teacher eligibility. But it does not clearly state whether TET applies only to teachers appointed after the act came into force. This loophole formed the basis of the Supreme Court decision, making the exam mandatory even for older teachers who never needed TET earlier.
The state government is now following up with the Centre to modify the Act. If the central government agrees, teachers appointed before 2009 may be fully exempted from the TET requirement.
For now, the fate of one and a half lakh teachers hangs in the balance. All eyes are on New Delhi as the education ministry studies the demand. A timely decision could spare thousands of teachers from a compulsory exam they were never expected to take.
