Punjab Implements Strict TET Requirement for Teacher Promotions
Teachers across Punjab are confronting a significant career obstacle as the state's school education department has officially prohibited educators who have not qualified the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) from advancing to higher positions. This directive has ignited widespread discontent among teaching professionals, who argue that the policy unjustly marginalizes seasoned instructors with years of classroom experience.
Department Cites Supreme Court Ruling and Multiple Opportunities
In a detailed order, the department emphasized that promotion eligibility must adhere strictly to established norms. Officials highlighted that the Punjab State Teacher Eligibility Test (PSTET) has been conducted on multiple dates, including September 14, 2017, November 12, 2025, December 24, 2025, and January 4 and 5, 2026, providing teachers with ample chances to qualify.
The department referenced Civil Appeal No 1385 of 2025, Anjuman-E-Taleem Trust versus State of Maharashtra, noting the Supreme Court's clarification that teachers with less than five years of service remaining may continue without TET qualification until retirement. However, these educators will not be eligible for promotion unless they pass the examination.
The order further specified that teachers completing two years of service after September 1, 2025, without qualifying PSTET-2 must clear the test, with no exceptions granted.
Counselling and Verification Schedule Announced
The department has released a structured schedule for counselling and verification of eligible teachers:
- January 29: Verification and station choice for teachers from Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, and Pathankot.
- January 30: Verification for candidates from Sangrur, Mansa, Bathinda, Moga, Faridkot, and Fazilka.
- February 2: Verification for teachers from Ferozepur and Ludhiana.
Clear instructions mandate that only eligible candidates may participate, station choices are final, and failure to appear on scheduled dates typically forfeits opportunities, barring exceptional circumstances. The department warned that station allotment will be based strictly on merit and availability, with disciplinary action for any attempts to influence the process. District education officers have been directed to ensure smooth implementation.
Official Justification and Teacher Opposition
Punjab School Education (Secondary) Director Gurinder Singh Sodhi stated the decision aligns with Supreme Court directives but added that the department plans to conduct TET soon to prevent deserving teachers from missing advancement chances.
However, the Democratic Teachers' Front (DTF) has strongly criticized the move, arguing that imposing TET at the promotion stage unfairly targets educators recruited before the test's introduction in 2011 under the Right to Education Act. DTF State President Vikramdev Singh and General Secretary Mahinder Korian Wali contended that teachers who entered service via competitive exams or merit-based criteria prior to 2011 are now being sidelined, as only TET-qualified teachers are called for station choice in promotions from primary to master cadres.
The leaders asserted that applying TET retrospectively lacks logical basis, as the test was designed for entry-level assessment, not for evaluating long-serving professionals. They called on the Punjab government to seek modification of the Supreme Court decision, exempt pre-2011 appointees from TET requirements, and include all eligible teachers in station choice, threatening agitation if demands are unmet.
