Pass TET to qualify as teacher, says Madras High Court

The Madras High Court has ordered the Tamil Nadu government to issue showcause notice, returnable in two weeks, to all unqualified teachers who have not cleared the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET).

The court sought to know how it could conclude that a teacher was qualifed to continue in the post when the teacher was unable to pass the TET within eight years.

Justice S M Subramaniam, disposing of four petitions by teachers Kasthurba Gandhi Baliga Vidyalaya Residential School, Perungalathur, who failed the test, said Tuesday that 60,000 fully qualified teachers who have cleared it or national eligibility tests were waiting and aspiring to be teachers.

Therefore, there was no reason for the government to retain such unqualified teachers in the post, the judge said.

In respect of implementing the qualifications, there could not be any leniency or misplaced sympathy by the Tamil Nadu government as this would be detrimental to the national educational policy, as well as in the .