In a significant move, the Kerala government has decided to legally challenge a recent Supreme Court directive that makes the Kerala Teachers Eligibility Test (K-TET) mandatory for all teachers in government and aided schools, including those appointed before the test was introduced. State General Education Minister V Sivankutty made this announcement on Saturday, stating the government will file a review petition in the apex court.
Government's Stance: Protecting Experienced Educators
Minister Sivankutty strongly asserted that the state administration will protect all teachers facing potential disqualification for not having cleared the K-TET examination. The Supreme Court's order applied the K-TET requirement retrospectively, affecting educators who joined service before the test's inception in 2012.
The minister argued that equating teachers who joined before and after K-TET's introduction is against Article 14 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees equality. He warned that implementing the order with retrospective effect would have severe consequences, potentially leading to numerous job losses among the teaching community.
Unfair to Apply New Rules Retrospectively, Says Minister
Elaborating on the government's position, Sivankutty highlighted the timeline. The K-TET examination was introduced in Kerala only in 2012. He deemed it unjust to demand this qualification from teachers who had already joined their posts before 2010, under the rules prevalent at that time.
"The Right to Education Act aims for quality education. However, dismissing long-serving, experienced teachers will only undermine this quality," the minister stated. He reminded that Kerala was at the forefront of educational standards and literacy even before K-TET's implementation. These teachers, he emphasized, provided excellent education while meeting the qualification standards of their era.
Next Steps and Future Examinations
The government is not leaving teachers without options. An examination will be conducted in February 2026 for those who wish to obtain the K-TET qualification. Furthermore, Sivankutty assured that the government would take all necessary steps to insulate teachers who joined service before 2010 from the fallout of the Supreme Court order.
The final decision to file the review petition will be taken after comprehensive discussions with legal experts and representatives of teachers' unions. This move underscores the state's commitment to safeguarding the careers of its experienced teaching workforce while navigating the demands of contemporary qualification norms.
