Regarding need to exempt the teachers appointed prior to the enforcement of the RTE Act, 2009 from mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) qualification-laid

Regarding need to exempt the teachers appointed prior to the enforcement of the RTE Act, 2009 from mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) qualification-laid SHRI MALAIYARASAN D. (KALLAKURICHI): Concerning the implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act) and the consequent hardship faced by thousands of teachers appointed prior to the introduction of the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) in the State of Tamil Nadu. The RTE Act came into force in Tamil Nadu on 23rd August 2010. Subsequently, the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) was introduced as a mandatory qualification. However, a large number of teachers had already been legally appointed before the enforcement of TET, after following the prevailing recruitment norms of that time. Despite this, orders were issued later, compelling such teachers to qualify TET retrospectively, leading to severe job insecurity, denial of promotions, stagnation of salary benefits, and mental distress. Many teachers who have been rendering sincere service for more than a decade are still being treated as ineligible, which is highly unjust. It is pertinent to point out that teachers appointed prior to 2012, including those working in Government, Government-aided, and Panchayat Union schools, were appointed in accordance with existing rules and procedures. Grant permanent exemption from TET to teachers appointed prior to the enforcement of the RTE Act / TET norms.