The Right to Education Act of 2009 was enacted to guarantee that all children in India receive compulsory education up to Class 8. Subsequently, in 2011, the National Council for Teacher Education introduced the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) to assess the qualification of individuals teaching students. As per the guidelines, only those who passed the TET were eligible to be appointed as teachers for Classes 1 to 8 in government and government-aided schools.

In Tamil Nadu, the Teachers Recruitment Board is responsible for conducting the TET. The examination has been held in the state since 2012. Paper 1 is designated for the recruitment of teachers for Classes 1 to 5, while Paper 2 is for those intending to teach Classes 6 to 8.

Against this backdrop, the Madras High Court ruled that passing the TET is a mandatory requirement for promotion to the post of teacher. However, the court clarified that the test is not compulsory for individuals who entered the profession prior to July 29, 2011. This ruling was subsequently challenged in the Supreme Court by various teachers’ unions and the Tamil Nadu government. Similarly, minority educational institutions have also submitted petitions to the Supreme Court, arguing that the TET should not be applicable to them. The verdict delivered by the bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George, who presided over these matters, has sparked significant controversy.

A consultative meeting was recently held at the Anna Centenary Library in Kotturpuram, Chennai, to gather views from representatives of various teachers’ unions. The meeting, chaired by the School Education Minister, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, focused on determining the next course of action.

Amidst these developments, it has been reported that teachers’ unions have demanded a reduction in the TET pass mark, which is currently out of 150, to just 20. It is worth noting that at present, candidates in the general category are required to score 90 marks, while candidates from categories such as Persons with Disabilities (PwD), Most Backward Classes (MBC), and Scheduled Castes (SC) must obtain at least 82 marks.