Meghalaya: Over 10000 Teachers Risk Job Loss After Supreme Court Mandates TET Clearance

A recent Supreme Court ruling has put the jobs of approximately 10,000 to 15,000 teachers in Meghalaya at risk, as it mandates that all teachers must pass the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) within two years to continue their employment.

Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui expressed concern over the decision, describing it as perplexing, and noted that the state government is actively exploring options to address the issue. Rymbui has been engaging with teacher associations, legal experts, and other state governments to consider requesting a review of the verdict from the Supreme Court.

The ruling includes an exemption for teachers with five or fewer years of service remaining, though they will be ineligible for promotions. Rymbui highlighted the retrospective impact of the decision and has instructed District School Education Officers (DSEOs) to collect detailed information on the affected teachers’ qualifications.

Acknowledging the significant contributions of teachers who have served for 25 to 30 years, Rymbui emphasized ongoing consultations with stakeholders to find a way forward. He noted that while minority institutions are exempt from the ruling, the matter has been escalated to the Supreme Court’s constitutional bench for further deliberation.

Rymbui stressed the importance of quality education and qualified teachers, in line with the court’s intent, but assured that the government is working to protect teachers’ jobs. “We will, however, need to conduct the TET exams as mandated,” he added.