The Tamil Nadu Assembly has passed a resolution urging the Centre to grant a full and permanent exemption from the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for government school teachers appointed before August 23, 2010. The move aims to protect thousands of experienced teachers from possible job and career-related consequences linked to the mandatory TET requirement.
School Education Minister A Rajmohan said around 3.28 lakh government school teachers in Tamil Nadu could be affected. Many of these teachers have completed between 15 and 20 years of uninterrupted service and may face difficulties with promotions, service benefits or even job security if they fail to clear the examination.
The resolution has urged the Union government to amend Section 23 of the Right to Education Act, 2009, and issue suitable guidelines through the National Council for Teacher Education to provide the exemption. It also seeks to ensure that eligible teachers continue receiving promotions and other service benefits without being affected by the TET requirement.
TET became a mandatory qualification for teachers under the Right to Education Act. The issue gained further attention following a recent Supreme Court ruling concerning the requirement for serving teachers to clear the test for promotions and, in certain cases, to retain their jobs.
The resolution received support from members of the DMK, AIADMK, CPI, CPI(M) and PMK before being passed through a voice vote. The state government has argued that experienced teachers appointed before the TET rules came into force should receive permanent relief.
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