Bhubaneswar, 2 September (H.S.): The Odisha Government will frame fresh guidelines following the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that mandates the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) for both recruitment and promotion of teachers.
School and Mass Education Minister said on Tuesday that the department would carefully study the apex court’s order before taking decisions. “Since the Supreme Court has ruled that qualifying the TET is mandatory for aspiring teachers as well as in-service teachers seeking promotions, our department will review the order and take decisions keeping teachers’ interests in mind. We will also examine the measures being taken by other states for implementing the directive,” he stated.
Acknowledging the existing situation in Odisha, the Minister noted that several teachers had been appointed without clearing the Odisha Teachers’ Eligibility Test (OTET), as the requirement was not in place earlier. “Following the Supreme Court’s verdict, the department will deliberate on the steps required in this regard,” he added.
On Monday, a bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih held that clearing the TET is a prerequisite for teacher recruitment and promotion. The court further directed that teachers with more than five years left before retirement must qualify the test within two years to remain in service. Those failing to do so would have the option of voluntary or compulsory retirement with terminal benefits.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda
