In a significant move, the Kerala government has unveiled fresh guidelines governing the Kerala Teachers' Eligibility Test (KTET) for recruitment and career advancement in government and aided schools. This decisive action comes in direct response to recent Supreme Court verdicts that reinforced the compulsory nature of Teachers' Eligibility Tests across the country.
Supreme Court Directives Prompt Revision
The state administration's decision is rooted in two pivotal Supreme Court judgments. The first was delivered on August 7, 2023, and a subsequent ruling followed on September 1, 2025, in Writ Petition No 1385/2025 and related civil appeals. Following these verdicts, the government undertook a detailed examination of the issue, seeking necessary clarifications from the Director of General Education before finalizing the updated norms.
Key Changes in Eligibility and Appointments
As per the newly issued directives, candidates who have successfully cleared either KTET Category I or Category II will retain their eligibility for appointment as Lower Primary (LP) and Upper Primary (UP) teachers. However, a crucial clarification states that those who have passed only KTET Category III will be considered exclusively for High School Teacher positions.
In a notable specification for language educators at the high school level, the government has mandated that they must now possess both KTET Category III and Category IV qualifications.
One of the most impactful changes involves the withdrawal of earlier exemptions. Previously, candidates holding advanced qualifications like SET, NET, MPhil, PhD, or MEd were not required to clear the KTET. This exemption has now been officially withdrawn. The government has clarified that all such candidates must now qualify the relevant KTET category to be eligible for teaching posts.
Revised Norms for Promotions and Transfers
The guidelines also introduce revised criteria for promotions. For elevation to the posts of Headmaster or for by-transfer appointments to Higher Secondary School Teacher (HSST) and HSST (Junior) roles, only serving High School teachers who hold a KTET Category III qualification will be considered.
For by-transfer promotions to various teaching positions, the rule is straightforward: only candidates possessing the relevant KTET qualification for the concerned category will be eligible. The existing procedures for promotion to the post of Higher Secondary School principal, however, remain unchanged.
The government has confirmed that the existing exemptions for candidates who have cleared the Central Teachers' Eligibility Test (CTET) will continue. Those with a CTET Primary Stage qualification are eligible for LP teacher appointments, while CTET Elementary Stage qualifiers can be considered for UP teacher posts.
State's Legal Position and Future Course
Earlier, General Education Minister V Sivankutty had indicated the state's intent to file a review petition or seek further clarity from the Supreme Court on the judgment that made TET mandatory for all school teachers. The minister had highlighted that education falls under the Concurrent List of the Constitution and suggested that the Union government consider fresh legislation to address concerns arising from the verdict.
The state government has made it clear that the newly issued guidelines will be implemented with immediate effect. However, their enforcement is subject to the final decision of the review petition currently pending before the Supreme Court.
