Jaipur: An association of govt school teachers, affiliated with the RSS, has announced plans for a nationwide protest on June 18 in response to a Supreme Court order requiring all govt school teachers to take the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET). As per the directions, all teachers currently in service must take the exam by Aug 31, 2028, to be eligible to continue in service and for promotions.As per the directions, all teachers currently in service must take the exam by Aug 31, 2028, to be eligible to continue in service and for promotions.The group, Akhil Bharatiya Rashtriya Shaikshik Mahasangh (ABRSM), argued that the mandate should only apply to teachers recruited after 2010, in line with the National Council for Teacher Education’s (NCTE) regulations. They estimate that nearly 1 lakh teachers in Rajasthan will be adversely affected by this decision.State president Ramesh Chandra Pushkarna said that NCTE notified TET as a minimum qualification on Aug 23, 2010. Prior to this, lakhs of teachers across various states were duly appointed in accordance with the rules, eligibility criteria, and selection processes applicable at that time. The association has demanded that all teachers appointed prior to Aug 23, 2010, be permanently exempted from the TET requirement and a clear decision from the govt should come on this issue to provide permanent relief to this group.The association has demanded that all teachers appointed prior to Aug 23, 2010, be permanently exempted from the TET requirement and a clear decision from the govt on this issue to provide permanent relief to this group.“These teachers have made significant contributions over the years for nation-building, quality education, social awareness and character building. Therefore, applying subsequently determined eligibility criteria with retrospective effect cannot be considered consistent with the principles of natural justice, equality and legal certainty,” said Pushkarna. He added that the services and accrued rights of teachers who were validly appointed in the past should not be adversely affected.He added that the services and accrued rights of teachers who were validly appointed in the past should not be adversely affected.State general secretary Mahendra Kumar Lakhara said that the situation has created an atmosphere of anxiety and uncertainty among lakhs of teachers across the country regarding their future. “If this matter is not resolved promptly by the govt, the impact will not be limited to teachers alone; it will also affect the stability of the school education system, the interests of students and the administrative framework. Therefore, this is not merely a service-related matter but a significant issue concerning the national education system,” said Lakhara.“If this matter is not resolved promptly by the govt, the impact will not be limited to teachers alone; it will also affect the stability of the school education system, the interests of students and the administrative framework. Therefore, this is not merely a service-related matter but a significant issue concerning the national education system,” said Lakhara.
