Bhubaneswar: The Odisha School and Mass Education Department has instructed education authorities to enforce a recent Supreme Court ruling that grants in-service teachers an additional year to obtain the required Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) qualification.

In a letter from Additional Secretary Jadumani Mahala, the department notified the Director of Elementary Education regarding the Supreme Court’s alteration of its previous directives. During the review of petitions in the case of State of Uttar Pradesh vs. Anjuman Ishaat-E-Taleem Trust & Others, the Supreme Court extended the timeframe for serving teachers to secure TET qualification from two years to three years.

Consequently, the deadline for obtaining the essential TET qualification has been pushed back from August 31, 2027, to August 31, 2028. The court reiterated that TET remains mandatory for in-service teachers to retain their positions and for promotions, highlighting the Right to Education (RTE) Act as a child-centered law that prioritizes the educational prospects of children. It characterized the extension as a one-time provision under Article 142 of the Constitution and clarified that no further extensions would be granted.

The department has directed all District Education Officers (DEOs), Block Education Officers (BEOs), and other relevant stakeholders to promptly acknowledge the revised timeline and ensure rigorous compliance. Officials have been urged to prioritize this matter and take necessary actions for its timely execution throughout the state.

This announcement is anticipated to provide significant relief to numerous in-service teachers in Odisha who have yet to pass the TET examination, affording them extra time to fulfill the qualification requirements while maintaining standards in elementary education.