Tamil Nadu Assembly Seeks TET Exemption for Pre-2010 Teachers

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a special resolution on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, urging the Central Government to amend the Right to Education Act and grant a complete exemption from the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) to teachers appointed before August 23, 2010. The resolution, which received broad cross-party support, calls for a permanent exemption to protect the service interests and livelihoods of approximately 3.28 lakh teachers in the state.

School Education Minister A. Rajmohan, who moved the resolution, stated that these teachers, many of whom have 15 to 20 years of service, face the risk of losing job benefits or their positions if they do not pass the mandatory exam. He argued that forcing experienced educators to clear a test introduced after their appointment is unfair and threatens their job security. The Minister highlighted that the TET requirement, made mandatory under the Right to Education Act of 2009, was further reinforced by a Supreme Court directive requiring even in-service teachers to clear the exam for promotions or to avoid termination. The Court has set a deadline of August 31, 2028, for teachers to clear the TET.