TET mandate sparks fear of mass job loss; 25 lakh senior teachers worried, says MP Kiran Kumar

New Delhi: As many as 25 lakh senior teachers across the country are worried about their jobs being at risk, said Bhongir MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy.

The MP made the statement over the recent Supreme Court’s order making the Teacher Eligibility Test mandatory for all teachers with more than five years of service at the risk of termination.

While raising the issues in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, Reddy said, “This TET mandatory test is causing deep distress and insecurity among lakhs of senior teachers across the country whose jobs are now at risk.”

‘Teachers appointed before August 2010 are exempt from TET’

MP Kiran Kumar’s statement was based on a representation submitted by the leadership of the School Teachers Federation of India (STFI) and the Telangana State United Teachers Federation (TSUTF), including STFI National General Secretary and TSUTF State President Shri Chava Ravi, TSUTF State General Secretary Shri Adimulam Venkat, and TSUTF District President (Yadadri Bhuvanagiri) Shri Mukkerla Yadayya.

Speaking in Parliament, the MP stated that both the Central and State governments had previously and repeatedly clarified that teachers appointed before the August 23, 2010, cut-off date were exempted from taking the TET.

“This past assurance is why many senior teachers never appeared for the exam over the last 15 years,” he said.

He vehemently argued that suddenly making TET mandatory and forcing these teachers to clear it within a two-year period is ‘completely unjust.’

He warned that this mandate could lead to the dismissal of thousands of senior educators, pushing them into a state of uncertainty and job insecurity.

Demand for Central government’s intervention

MP Kiran Kumar urged the Central government to immediately take necessary steps to protect the rights of these teachers.

Furthermore, he demanded that the government make appropriate amendments to the RTE Act 2009 and the NCTE Act 1993, if required, to safeguard these teachers from the sudden imposition of the TET requirement.

Teachers announce national roundtable

The School Teachers Federation of India (STFI) announced a National Round Table Meeting in New Delhi on December 10 (Tuesday) at HKS Surjit Bhavan, near the New Delhi Railway Station.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the necessary steps the Central government must take to protect the jobs of senior teachers and prevent a crisis in the education sector following the Supreme Court’s ruling.

The meeting will aim to formulate a unified action plan.

In a joint statement, STFI president C N Bharthi and general secretary Chava Ravi expressed deep concern that the Supreme Court judgment mandates that all teachers with more than five years of service remaining must clear the TET within two years or face termination.

‘Major crisis in the education sector on the horizon’

They lamented that removing such a large number of educators would cause a severe teacher shortage in government schools, leading to a major crisis in the education sector.

They noted that despite two months passing since the verdict and widespread protests and Parliamentary mentions by various MPs, there has been no response from the Central government.

STFI leaders requested national representatives of all teachers’ unions to attend the meeting, share their views on the TET issue and participate in formulating a consensus-based action plan.

What led to the order from the Supreme Court?

The current widespread distress and protest among pre-2010 appointed teachers stem from a Supreme Court judgment that effectively mandated the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for this group.

Here’s a brief look at the developments regarding the law:

- The Original Exemption: When the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, came into effect, it introduced the TET as a mandatory qualification for all future teacher appointments.

However, the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) guidelines and subsequent government clarifications had consistently exempted teachers who were already appointed before August 23, 2010 (the date the NCTE notification was issued) from the requirement. This exemption was based on the premise that they were appointed under the previous recruitment rules.

- The Court’s Ruling: The Supreme Court, in its ruling, upheld the mandatory nature of the TET for all teachers, regardless of their date of appointment, stating that the test is essential to maintain the quality of teaching and education.

- The Impact: The judgment requires all serving teachers with more than five years of service remaining to qualify in the TET within a specified period (reportedly two years in the current context). Failure to do so would result in the termination of their employment.

- Teachers’ Grievance: Teachers who relied on the previous government exemptions argue that this sudden requirement is retrospective and unfair. Many are senior, highly experienced educators who never prepared for or attempted the exam, and being forced to clear it now under the threat of job loss is causing extreme anxiety and is seen as a betrayal of past assurances. This has put an estimated 25 lakh jobs at risk, leading to the ongoing nationwide protests and calls for legislative intervention.