Chandigarh, Feb 26: The Punjab government has announced its intention to file a review petition in the Supreme Court concerning a recent mandate that makes the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) compulsory for all serving government school staff. This judicial order impacts approximately 40,000 of the state’s one lakh teachers currently operating across more than 19,000 educational institutions.
Education Minister Harjot Bains stated that the state administration intends to stand firmly with the affected educators. He affirmed that the government would move the Supreme Court to seek the apex court’s intervention on behalf of the teaching community. While sources within the administration suggested that the state might consider introducing new legislation during the upcoming Budget session of the Vidhan Sabha, the Minister declined to comment on that specific possibility.
The current ruling requires teachers recruited prior to 2011—the year TET became a standard requirement—to clear the examination by August 31, 2027, to maintain their employment. The order further stipulates that those who do not qualify will be barred from future promotions. However, exemptions have been granted to staff members with less than five years of service remaining before retirement.
Officials within the education department noted that the TET was originally designed under the Right to Education Act to evaluate teaching aptitude and subject expertise. They maintained that the sudden imposition of a deadline creates an undue burden on staff who already manage heavy academic workloads and frequent assignments for election duties.
Teacher unions have expressed significant opposition to the mandate, with representatives from the Democratic Teachers Front describing the requirement as unfair for those who have already cleared rigorous recruitment procedures. Union leaders asserted that many veteran teachers have specialized in specific subjects for decades and may struggle with the multi-subject nature of the eligibility test.
