Pune: Teachers’ organisations want a complete review of Maharashtra’s promotion policy, with many members saying that the credibility of the examination is lost. The controversy has also revived opposition to making TET mandatory for promotions, particularly for teachers who joined before 2013 and have spent over three decades in classrooms.Nilesh Dhumale, a teacher who had signed up for the exam, said, “Senior teachers were recruited when TET was not a requirement. Promotions under Maharashtra Civil Services Rules, 1967 have traditionally been based on seniority. We fear that experienced teachers could retire without a promotion while junior TET-qualified teachers will move ahead.”Education policy expert Shailendra Deshmukh said if the integrity of the examination is in doubt, it is unfair to make it the sole basis for denying promotions to teachers who have spent 30 to 35 years in service. “Govt should introduce a separate competency assessment for in-service teachers that evaluates classroom performance and experience,” he added.Teachers’ organisations have questioned the school education department’s May 14, 2026 communication, alleging that it effectively blocks promotions of senior teachers who are not TET-qualified. They want the order kept in abeyance until govt evolves a fair promotion policy.“The TET process is conducted under the supervision of the examination authorities. Govt should hand over the investigation to the CID. Honest teachers have suffered because of repeated failures in the examination system,” Kalpesh Yadav, state joint secretary of Yuva Sena, said.Narayan Shinde, president of Maharashtra State Recognised Private Primary Teachers and Non-Teaching Employees Federation, said, “Authorities should have thoroughly investigated the earlier TET paper leak. Before that inquiry has reached its logical conclusion, another paper leak has surfaced. Govt must go beyond assurances and implement long-term structural reforms to ensure transparency.”Mahendra Ganpule, former vice-president of State Headmasters’ Federation, said the State Examination Council should have remained vigilant, particularly after previous irregularities. “The entire episode requires an impartial inquiry, and the responsibility of conducting teacher recruitment through the Pavitra Portal should also be reviewed because candidates have lost confidence in the examination system,” he added.Teacher representatives said genuine candidates are badly affected. “The paper leak is not merely an administrative lapse but a betrayal of thousands of candidates who prepared honestly balancing school responsibilities. The examination process must be secure and transparent and such incidents never repeated,” Prasad Gaikwad, president of Pune District Secondary and Higher Secondary School Headmasters’ Association, said.Student organisations also want strict action. “This is a serious breach of students’ trust and future. Everyone responsible must face strict legal action, and the government should implement structural reforms,” Atharva Kulkarni, state secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, said.Santosh Magar, founder-president of D.T.Ed-BEd Students’ Association, said, “After repeated paper leaks, it is time to test govt’s ability to conduct examinations rather than repeatedly testing teachers. If transparency cannot be guaranteed, the compulsory TET condition for promotions should be reconsidered.”Several teachers’ bodies have warned of statewide protests if govt fails to take strict action against those responsible and address the concerns surrounding promotions. They have urged the state to protect the interests of long-serving teachers while restoring public confidence in the examination system through transparent and credible reforms.
