More than 80,000 government school teachers in Chhattisgarh will now be required to pass the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) following directions issued by the Supreme Court last year. The decision affects a significant portion of the state’s 1.93 lakh teachers, with nearly 42 percent reportedly yet to qualify the mandatory examination.
Teacher organizations have been urging the government to exempt those appointed before the implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act and the 2012 recruitment rules, arguing that TET was not a requirement at the time of their appointment. Assistant teachers and regular teachers fall under the category of those who may now need to clear the exam.
The state government had earlier considered introducing a special provision or conducting a departmental examination as an alternative, but the School Education Department has not issued any official order so far. This uncertainty has increased concerns among teachers across the state.
Teacher unions have also announced plans for a protest in Delhi on April 4. Those unable to travel to the capital are expected to participate in a one-day strike by taking casual leave in support of the movement.
Meanwhile, the latest TET results released by Vyapam on March 20 highlighted the seriousness of the issue. More than 87,000 teachers appeared for the examination, but only around eight percent managed to pass, raising questions about the feasibility of making the test mandatory for all.
Chhattisgarh Teachers Association state president Sanjay Sharma said the Supreme Court made TET compulsory based on guidelines issued by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), but the move has created anxiety among thousands of teachers. He added that those recruited before the enforcement of RTE and the 2012 recruitment rules were never required to pass TET, and the government should consider relief measures for them.
Discussions between teacher unions and the government are expected in the coming days, as stakeholders seek a balanced solution that protects teachers’ jobs while complying with legal requirements.
