Supreme Court Makes TET Mandatory: Over 50,000 Kerala Teachers are in Trouble

The Supreme Court judgement on TET has ruled that all government and aided school teachers in the country, including those appointed before the 2009 Right to Education (RTE) Act, must possess Teacher Eligibility Test (KTET) qualification to continue in service or to secure promotions. The verdict, delivered on September 1, 2025 has placed more than 50,000 teachers in Kerala in a state of concern.

According to the TET Supreme Court judgment 2025, teachers with more than five years of service left must clear KTET within two years, i.e., by September 1, 2027, failing which they will face compulsory retirement with benefits. Teachers with less than five years left before retirement may continue without KTET but will not be considered for promotions. New appointments will only be valid if candidates already possess KTET or CTET at the time of recruitment, ending the earlier practice of qualifying after appointment.

The Court further clarified that higher academic qualifications such as NET, SET, M.Ed., or Ph.D. cannot substitute for KTET, since the test is designed to assess pedagogy and teaching aptitude, rather than academic knowledge. However, the Supreme Court judgment on TET specifically exempts minority institutions, which are not bound by the mandatory KTET requirement under constitutional provisions.

Schools have been directed to conduct a service book audit based on upcoming KTET exam rules to categorise teachers based on remaining service years, ensure strict compliance with the Court’s order in promotions and appointments, and provide support for teachers to prepare for KTET before the 2027 deadline. The ruling marks a significant shift in Kerala’s education sector, setting a uniform benchmark for teaching standards while leaving thousands of in-service teachers under pressure to qualify within the stipulated time.