Meghalaya SSA Teachers Plan Review Petition Against Supreme Court’s TET Mandate

Teachers under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in Meghalaya have resolved to file a review petition challenging a Supreme Court ruling which requires all in-service teachers to pass the Teacher’s Eligibility Test (TET) to remain in service.

The decision was unanimously adopted during a general meeting of the Meghalaya Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan Schools’ Association (MSSASA) held at Malki Ground on Monday, where members signalled their support by raising their hands in favour of the proposal.

MSSASA president Aristotle Rymbai, addressing the gathering, explained that the association was prompted to contest the ruling after consultations with legal experts. “Court orders should apply prospectively, not retrospectively. This mandate, however, unfairly impacts serving teachers by being enforced retroactively,” Rymbai argued. He highlighted that the ruling affects all teachers, including those with decades of service or nearing retirement, compelling them to take the TET.

Expressing concern over the verdict’s implications, Rymbai warned that it could jeopardise teachers’ futures. He emphasised that the decision to pursue a review petition was brought before the general body due to the significant financial costs involved, necessitating collective support. “This ruling directly affects us. We cannot stay silent and wait for the government’s next move. We must unite and act,” he urged.

Rymbai noted that the Supreme Court’s decision stems from the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) notification of August 23, 2010, and amendments to the Right to Education (RTE) Act in 2017. He recalled that during a November 18, 2024, meeting with Commissioner and Secretary Vijay Kumar Mantri, MSSASA had requested an exemption from the Meghalaya Teacher Eligibility Test (MTET) for teachers appointed before the 2010 NCTE notification. Following this, the Education Department issued a notification on January 29, 2025, exempting pre-2010 appointees from the MTET, a move that had initially reassured teachers.

“Those who joined after August 23, 2010, took the MTET in 2024, and we felt secure after the government’s exemption. This Supreme Court ruling has now disrupted that stability,” Rymbai said. He added that Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui recently indicated plans to consult with the Chief Minister, Advocate General, Cabinet members, and political party leaders before deciding whether the government would file its own review petition.

To address confusion among teachers, Rymbai clarified that there is no distinction between the Central TET (CTET) and the MTET. “Teachers who have cleared the CTET are exempt from taking the MTET, as both are valid for schools under central and state jurisdictions,” he explained.