Staff Reporter.TOD.Balurghat
A nationwide campaign by teachers’ organizations demanding relief from the implementation of a recent Supreme Court ruling on the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) gathered momentum on Thursday, as hundreds of educators in West Bengal joined demonstrations and submitted memorandums to government authorities.
The protests come in response to the Supreme Court’s decision upholding the requirement that in-service primary and upper-primary school teachers clear the Teacher Eligibility Test by August 31, 2028, as a condition for continuing in service. The court, while extending the compliance deadline by one year, reaffirmed that TET is a mandatory qualification intended to safeguard educational standards and ensure quality learning for children.
In the district of South Dinajpur, more than a hundred teachers participated in a rally organized under the banner of the Akhil Bharatiya Rashtriya Shikshak Mahasangh(ABRSM), a national teachers’ federation. The march began at Balurghat High School grounds and proceeded through major streets before reaching the District Magistrate’s office.Representatives of the organization submitted a memorandum addressed to India’s Prime Minister and Union Education Minister, urging the central government to intervene and find a practical resolution to concerns arising from the court’s order.
Teachers’ groups argue that the ruling has created uncertainty for millions of experienced educators, many of whom were appointed before TET became a statutory requirement. They contend that forcing long-serving teachers to qualify through a standardized examination late in their careers could jeopardize livelihoods and disrupt school operations.
The Supreme Court, however, rejected review petitions filed by several state governments, teachers’ associations and individual educators, maintaining that the Right to Education framework requires all serving teachers to meet prescribed minimum qualifications. The bench emphasized that “the educational future of children” cannot be compromised and directed authorities to conduct TET examinations regularly to provide sufficient opportunities for teachers to qualify.
Speaking during Thursday’s demonstration, participants called for a solution that balances educational quality with the interests of experienced teachers who have served in classrooms for decades. Organizers said similar memorandum campaigns are being carried out across districts in several states.
With the deadline now set for 2028, attention is turning to the central government’s response. Many teachers hope policymakers will address their concerns through administrative measures, additional examination opportunities, or other forms of support that could ease the transition while preserving the stability of the country’s school system.For now, India’s teaching community remains caught between a judicial mandate aimed at raising educational standards and growing fears about its impact on the nation’s existing workforce.
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