The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Tuesday adopted a resolution urging the Centre to “fully and permanently” exempt government teachers appointed before August 23, 2010 from clearing the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) to continue in service.
School Education Minister A Rajmohan, who moved the resolution, said around 3,28,701 government school teachers across the state would be affected by the TET requirement. He said these teachers faced the risk of losing their job benefits or even their positions if they did not pass the exam.
Rajmohan said many of these teachers had served continuously for 15 to 20 years and that making them take a new exam now was being seen as a threat to their job security and livelihoods.
“Hence, the Assembly through a resolution urges the Union Government to provide a permanent exemption from the TET for teachers appointed before 23 August 2010, amend Section 23 of the Right to Education Act 2009 to facilitate this exemption through official NCTE (National Council for Teacher Education) guidelines, and ensure that these teachers continue to receive all job benefits, including promotions, without obstruction,” he said.
Explaining the issue, the minister said TET had been made a mandatory qualification for teachers under the Right to Education Act, 2009, and that a recent Supreme Court ruling had held that even serving teachers must clear the exam to get promoted or face the risk of losing their jobs.
“Forcing experienced educators to take the exam is unfair and threatens their job security and career growth. Hence, the Assembly proposes this unanimous resolution urging the Centre to provide full and permanent exemption from TET to those appointed before August 23, 2010,” he said.
The resolution also called for amending the RTE Act of 2009 to protect the teachers’ livelihood and service benefits.
DMK member and former state minister EV Velu said the previous DMK government had taken up the issue before the Supreme Court.
Supporting the present government’s efforts to secure legislation at the Central level, he said much of the current problem would not have arisen if education had been in the State List.
Members of the DMK, AIADMK, CPI, CPI(M) and PMK supported the resolution, which was later passed by voice vote, with the House backing the demand for a permanent TET exemption for teachers appointed before August 23, 2010.
– Ends
Published By:
India Today Web Desk
Published On:
Aug 25, 2026 12:52 IST
