SC directive on mandatory TET
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 10: Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui has expressed concern over the implications of the recent Supreme Court ruling for around 35,000 in-service teachers who may lose their jobs if they fail to clear the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET).
Speaking at the inauguration of the year-long Golden Jubilee celebration of the Directorate of Educational Research and Training (DERT) here on Friday, Rymbui said the crucial point that the Directorate needs to consider is the Supreme Court mandate requiring all teachers to pass the TET.
He said that, based on a conservative estimate, there are 30,000 to 35,000 teachers who have not yet cleared the TET.
The education minister observed that those who wish to continue in service must obtain the qualification within two years—by around August 30 or September 1, 2027.
Expressing concern over the ruling’s implications, he added that teachers who fail to clear the TET by then will not be qualified to teach and will have to leave their jobs, calling it a “very crucial issue”.
“My concern is that even if the Supreme Court does not modify its order in due course, we should not wait for any modification or further clarification,” Rymbui said.
He further noted that the question arises whether DERT has the capacity to conduct the TET for these 35,000 in-service teachers, along with aspiring teachers, within the two-year period—and how this will be managed.
To qualify for the TET, he said, a candidate must secure at least 45% in Class 12 and 45% or above in the Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed).
“We also need to examine whether teaching experience will be taken into consideration. This is another crucial aspect that the DERT should carefully deliberate on,” the education minister added.
Edn minister pats DERT
Rymbui, meanwhile, highlighted DERT’s pivotal role in curriculum and material development, teacher training and promoting innovative pedagogical practices. He commended the Directorate’s continued commitment to improving the quality of education and emphasised the need for ongoing innovation to meet the evolving demands of 21st-century learners.
Reflecting on DERT’s journey over the past fifty years, the education minister noted that while much progress happens quietly behind the scenes, it is essential for the Directorate to remain focused on its core mission of enhancing Meghalaya’s education system.
Lauding the three initiatives of DERT as part of the Golden Jubilee celebration, Rymbui praised the introduction of a six-month certificate course in Guidance and Counselling for teachers, designed to help students navigate academic and career choices and provide support to youth at risk.
He also commended the development of a module on Entrepreneurship and Soft Skills aimed at fostering a spirit of entrepreneurship among students, particularly among the tribes of Meghalaya, since entrepreneurship skills are still lacking.
During the function, the Meghalaya Reading Festival was also inaugurated. The education minister emphasised its importance in rekindling students’ interest in reading, critical thinking and creativity, while stressing the need to balance technological advancement with traditional learning to cultivate rational, compassionate and purposeful minds.
Rymbui stressed that quality education depends on three key components—effective infrastructure, qualified teachers and a strong curriculum—and that transformation requires classroom innovation, technology integration and policy interventions.
He then also underscored the importance of coordinated functioning among the state’s three directorates and MBoSE, urging synchronised systems and flexible frameworks to enable schools and institutions to function effectively while maintaining educational standards.
The inaugural programme featured a presentation on DERT’s journey since 1976, cultural performances by teacher trainees and the official unveiling of the Golden Jubilee logo. To mark the milestone, DERT has lined up seminars, capacity-building workshops, exhibitions, and outreach programmes across the state.
Celebrated under the theme ‘Honouring the Past, Empowering the Present, and Shaping the Future’, the Golden Jubilee commemorates five decades of DERT’s contribution to teacher education, educational research, and professional training.
The event was attended by Education Commissioners and Secretaries Vijay Kumar Mantri and Ryntihlang Rapthap, along with education officials, teacher educators, researchers and representatives from various institutions.
