By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 8: The Meghalaya SSA Schools’ Association (MSSASA) on Monday sought a clarification from the Education Department on its position regarding the Supreme Court ruling on the applicability of the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) to all in-service teachers.
Members of the MSSASA met Commissioner and Secretary of Education, Vijay Kumar Mantri, to discuss the issue.
In its ruling on September 1 in the case of Anjuman Ishaat-E-Taleem Trust Vs the State of Maharashtra & Others, the Supreme Court made it mandatory for all teachers, including those already in service, to clear the TET within two years. Failing to do so will result in termination, with such teachers either compulsorily retired or given the terminal benefits due to them.
Talking to reporters, MSSASA president Aristotle Rymbai said that as stakeholders in the education sector, they wanted to understand the stance of the state government on the ruling and its implementation in Meghalaya.
As per the ruling, Rymbai said all in-service teachers appointed prior to the enactment of the RTE Act, must pass the TET within two years, effective from September 1, 2025.
The order makes two key distinctions: teachers with less than five years of service are not required to clear the TET, while for those with more than five years of service, passing the TET is mandatory.
Additionally, teachers appointed before the RTE Act, who seek promotion, are also required to clear the TET, even if their service is less than five years.
“We discussed these points in detail with the Commissioner. He (Mantri) assured us that the government will take a decision on this matter in the coming days. Most likely, after the autumn session of the Assembly, the Education Department will deliberate further on the Supreme Court ruling,” Rymbai said.
From the Association’s side, he added, they have requested the government, through the Commissioner, to consider introducing a special exemption in view of the long years of service rendered by many teachers.
Rymbai pointed out that the ruling applies to all categories of teachers—government school teachers, private school teachers, SSA teachers, and DSE teachers.
According to him, many of these teachers have been serving for 15, 20, or even 25 years.
“We strongly feel that their service must be duly considered. The Commissioner assured us that he would place this suggestion before the government in the forthcoming meeting,” the MSSASA president said, adding that the Commissioner also reassured them that teachers need not panic over the ruling.
He further said that the government will soon take a call on the matter and issue clear directions and clarifications.
The MSSASA president said the Commissioner clarified that before this Supreme Court ruling, teachers appointed prior to August 23, 2010—the date of the NCTE notification—enjoyed exemption.
“However with this latest order, the exemption no longer applies,” Rymbai added.