Teacher Eligibility Test Essential to Continue in Service and Relaxation in some state
As Per the Supreme Court Order, teachers who have more than five years of service left must pass the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) to keep their jobs. The Supreme Court used its authority under Article 142 to ease the TET requirement for teachers with fewer than five years of service left.
Some states provide a 5% reduction in qualifying marks, usually lowering the requirement from 60% to 55%, for reserved categories such as SC, ST, OBC, and Differently Abled.
Key Details on TET Relaxation for Working Teachers:
- Mandatory Qualification: The Supreme Court has ruled that all in-service teachers, no matter how long they have served, need to pass the TET to keep their jobs.
- Timeframe: Teachers with more than 5 years until retirement must pass the TET within 2 years of the mandatory order to keep their jobs.
- Relaxation Criteria: While 60% is usually required for the General category, reserved categories get some relaxation based on state policies.
TET qualifying marks for teachers typically require at least 60% (90 out of 150 marks) for the General category, with some relaxations for reserved categories. In specific states, such as Tamil Nadu (TNTET), there is a 5% relaxation for some candidates. This means the minimum marks are 50-55% for BC/MBC/DNC and 40% for SC/ST.
State-Specific Relaxation Examples:
- Tamil Nadu: Reduced qualifying marks for TET. There is a 5% reduction for SC, ST, and other reserved categories.
- Telangana/Andhra Pradesh: Often, allow 40% (60 marks) for SC, ST, and differently abled candidates.
The Supreme Court confirmed that states can allow a 5% reduction in TET passing marks for reserved categories.