SC Reaffirms TET as Constitutional Necessity for Quality Education: Implications for RTE Act
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The Supreme Court has upheld the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for all in-service teachers, linking it to the fundamental right to quality education under Article 21A. While granting an extension until 2028, the court emphasized that professional standards cannot be compromised regardless of appointment dates.
The Supreme Court of India has recently reaffirmed that the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) is a constitutional necessity for ensuring the quality of education provided under Article 21A. In a significant ruling, the court dismissed review petitions from teachers who were appointed before the enactment of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, and who sought exemption from the qualifying exam.
The bench emphasized that the 'Right to Education' is not merely a right to attend school but a right to receive 'quality education' from qualified teachers. By linking TET to Article 21A, the judiciary has elevated the requirement from a statutory mandate to a constitutional obligation. This underscores the principle that the state’s duty to provide education includes the duty to ensure that the educators meet a minimum benchmark of pedagogical competence.
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