MK Stalin urges PM Modi to intervene in SC's TET ruling; seeks enforcement of RTE, NCTE norms

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin has sought his support in safeguarding teacher’s right across the country, following the Supreme Court's recent judgement mandating the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for all in-service teachers.

Stating that the SC’s ruling could adversely affect lakhs of teachers nationwide, including around 4 lakh in Tamil Nadu, the chief minister has urged PM Modi to implement Right To Education Act, 2009 (RTE), and the National Council for Teachers Education Act , 1993 (NCTE).

The Supreme Court’s judgement states that all in-service teachers who have not passed the teacher’s eligibility exam must qualify the test to continue their service. It further rules that teachers with less than five years of service remaining may continue their roles, but will not be eligible for promotions unless they qualify TET.

Also read ‘We’re not typists’: West Bengal teachers say Voter SIR work killing them, demand damages as another BLO dies

SC's ruling violates rights of teachers, says Stalin

“I request you to instruct the Ministry of Education to take necessary steps to suitably amend Section 23 of the RTE Act, 2009, and Section 12A of the NCTE Act, 1993. Such amendments alone can ensure that teachers who were in service as on 23.08.2010 are duly protected, remain eligible for promotions, and continue to contribute without disruption to the education of our children,” Stalin said in his letter to PM Modi.

The chief minister further said in his letter that the apex court’s ruling has violated the rights of teachers, especially those with less than five years of service left. The verdict has made TET compulsory even for existing teachers, superseding the earlier exemption, he added.

Consequently, these teachers are now obliged to pass the TET within two years or face termination of their employment, leading to significant administrative and personal hardship, the chief minister said.

Nearly four lakh teachers in Tamil Nadu have been affected by the apex court’s ruling. These teachers had satisfied all academic and professional qualifications prescribed at the time, were recruited through valid and rigorous processes, and entered service many years before the introduction of TET in 2011, Stalin said.

“The retrospective application of TET to this group, both for continuation in service and for eligibility for promotions, creates a significant disruption of long-settled service rights, an administrative impossibility for the State, and poses a serious risk of destabilising the functioning of the school education system,” he added.