The Supreme Court of India has mandated that qualifying the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) is compulsory for individuals aspiring to become teachers and for in-service teachers seeking promotions. This directive emphasizes the necessity of the TET for both new appointments and career advancements within the teaching profession.
For in-service teachers who were appointed before the enactment of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, the Court has provided a two-year period to pass the TET, provided they have more than five years of service remaining. However, teachers with less than five years of service left are exempt from this requirement unless they seek promotion. In such cases, the TET must be cleared to be considered for advancement.
The Court also addressed the applicability of the TET requirement to minority educational institutions. It held that the TET mandate under the RTE Act does not apply to minority institutions until a larger bench decides on the issue concerning the applicability of the RTE Act to these institutions.
This ruling underscores the importance of the TET in ensuring that teachers possess the necessary qualifications and competencies, aligning with the objectives of the RTE Act to enhance the quality of education in India.