Teachers from classes 1 to VIII across the country will have to pass the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET). The Supreme Court has refused to withdraw the order making it mandatory. While giving its verdict on the review petitions filed in the case, the court has given only this relief that the deadline for passing TET has been extended by one year to August 31, 2028.

What was the previous order?

On September 1, 2025, the Supreme Court had ruled that teachers who are working without TET will have to pass it in 2 years. If he does not do this, he will have to leave the job or he will be compulsorily retired. This order was for all those teachers whose job was left for more than 5 years. It was not made mandatory for teachers who had less than 5 years left for retirement to pass TET, but it was made clear that if they wanted promotion, they would have to pass TET.

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Explanation of RTE Act

While giving the order last year, the bench of Justices Dipankar Dutta and Manmohan had explained the provisions of the Right to Education Act (RTE Act), 2009. The court had said that the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) had made TET mandatory for teachers on July 29, 2011. In such a situation, without this qualification no one can become a teacher. Now once again the court has refused to change its decision on the basis of the same provisions.

no more time extensions

The Supreme Court has said that for good education of children, it is necessary for the teacher to be qualified and trained. In view of the large number of non-TET teachers and the failure of the states in conducting the TET exam, the court has extended the earlier deadline by one year. The court has made it clear that no extension of time will be given after this. In the order, the court appealed to the teachers not to be limited to just saving their jobs. Give priority to quality education of children.

Teachers organization had reached court

Teachers’ organizations of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and some state governments had filed a review petition to change the decision taken last year. In these petitions, it was demanded that the teachers who were appointed before the implementation of RTE Act, 2009, should be exempted from passing TET, but the court has refused this.

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