Odisha to Review Supreme Court Order Making TET Mandatory for Teachers

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government will review the Supreme Court’s recent order making the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) mandatory for both teacher recruitment and promotions, School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond said on Tuesday.

The Minister’s statement came after a bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih ruled that clearing the TET is compulsory for teachers at the entry level as well as for promotions.

The apex court clarified that teachers with less than five years left for retirement will be exempted from the requirement, but those with more service tenure must qualify the test to remain in service.

Speaking to reporters, Gond said, “The department will review the Supreme Court’s order on TET and take decisions keeping teachers’ interests in mind. We will also study how other states are implementing the directive. Teachers’ welfare and interests will be prioritised while taking any decision.”

He acknowledged that many teachers in Odisha were appointed earlier without clearing the Odisha Teachers’ Eligibility Test (OTET), as it was not mandatory at the time. Following the verdict, the department will deliberate on the necessary steps to implement the new guidelines aimed at standardising teacher eligibility across the state.