Pune: Primary school teachers in Maharashtra are anxious after Supreme Court made the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) mandatory for all teachers to clear within two years or risk losing their jobs. The worry stems from the state recording low pass percentages in the exam—just 3.38% in the 2024 exam, where only 11,168 of over 3.5 lakh candidates qualified.While some teachers’ organisations plan to petition the state which has yet to issue a govt resolution on the order, others have accepted it but say that reforms like several exams a year, a fixed exam pattern, and a declared syllabus should be implemented by the state to improve their chances of success.Mahendra Ganpule, spokesperson for Maharashtra School Principals’ Federation, said that their organisation has not opposed the SC order. “This is an entrance exam to demonstrate ability. We want the exam process streamlined. Govt must ensure that the exam takes place on time and not after a year. Considering the low passing percentage, the examination should be held several times a year. The exam pattern should be fixed, and the syllabus announced. Currently, there is a lot of flexibility in these aspects,” he said.Some organisations, like Shikshak Bharati Sanghatna, have written to Chief Justice of India Bhushan Gavai demanding a reconsideration of the decision. Teachers instructing classes from Std I to VIII will have to retire if they do not pass the TET within the next two years. “Supreme Court’s decision has created confusion and fear among teachers,” the letter said.Subhash More, working president of Shikshak Bharati Sanghatna, said education is a subject in the concurrent list and govt must provide relief to teachers in the state without making the apex court’s decision binding. “The govt resolution of 2013 stated that all teachers who joined after the GR should be TET eligible. The same should be followed now. If the state believes that there is a need for quality improvement in teachers, they should implement programmes. Asking teachers to appear again for an entrance examination is not right,” he added.
