SC TET Verdict Puts Jobs of Over 16,000–17,000 Tripura Teachers Under Cloud, Non-TET-qualified Teachers Have to Clear TET by August 2028

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, June 2, 2026

A recent Supreme Court verdict making the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) mandatory for in-service teachers has triggered widespread concern among the teaching community in Tripura, where an estimated 16,000 to 17,000 teachers may not possess TET qualifications.

The judgment, which has nationwide implications, reiterates that teachers with more than five years of service remaining before retirement must clear the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) to continue in service. The Court has, however, extended the deadline for obtaining the qualification until August 31, 2028, providing an additional year of relief to affected teachers.

According to available statistics, Tripura's Education Department manages a teaching workforce of approximately 23,660 teachers. Of these, only around 6,800 to 7,000 teachers are believed to be TET-qualified, leaving a substantial majority without the mandatory certification. Although the state government has not publicly released an exact breakdown of TET and non-TET teachers, education sector estimates suggest that more than 16,000 to 17,000 teachers could fall within the ambit of the Supreme Court's ruling.

The Supreme Court has ruled that Teachers with more than five years of service left before retirement must pass the TET within the stipulated period.

Teachers who have less than five years of service remaining are exempt from the requirement but may not be eligible for promotion without TET qualification.

Failure to acquire the qualification within the prescribed timeframe could result in loss of eligibility to continue in service.

The Court emphasized that TET is a minimum professional qualification intended to ensure quality education standards across the country. It also dismissed review petitions challenging the earlier verdict while extending the compliance deadline to August 31, 2028.

The verdict is expected to have a significant impact on Tripura's school education system. Many teachers currently serving in primary and upper-primary schools were appointed before TET became a standard requirement. A large number may now have to appear in and clear TET examinations within the next two years.

Teacher organizations and education experts fear that if a substantial section of teachers fails to qualify within the deadline, the state could face an unprecedented manpower crisis in schools. Similar concerns have been raised in several other states following the Supreme Court judgment.

Education circles in Tripura are now closely watching the state government's next move. Teachers' bodies are expected to seek clarity regarding the exact number of teachers affected.

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