Bhubaneswar, Sep 2: The Odisha government on Tuesday said that it will examine the recent Supreme Court ruling making the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) mandatory for both new and in-service teachers.

Odisha School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond stated that the department will thoroughly review the order to ensure decisions are made with teachers' interests in mind.

"As the Supreme Court has made TET qualification compulsory for both aspiring and current teachers, we will study the judgment and take appropriate steps," he said.

Gond also mentioned that the state will look into how other states are responding to the directive. He acknowledged that many teachers currently employed in Odisha had been recruited before TET became a requirement in 2011 and were therefore not required to take the test at that time.

To address this, the government is planning to organize special TET exams to give in-service teachers a chance to qualify.

According to the Supreme Court ruling, TET clearance is now essential for both recruitment and promotion of teachers. In-service teachers with more than five years remaining before retirement must pass the test within two years to continue their service. Those who do not may have to opt for voluntary or compulsory retirement with terminal benefits.

However, the requirement does not apply to elementary-level teachers who have less than five years of service left. While they are exempted from the TET, they will not be eligible for promotion, Gond clarified.

Several teachers’ organizations in Odisha have urged the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision, requesting that the TET requirement apply only to new recruits and not to those hired before the rule came into effect.

An official from the School and Mass Education department emphasized that TET serves as the minimum qualification for teaching Classes 1 to 8 in both government and certain private schools across India.