Mon Sep 08 07:59:44 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
Kerala’s Minister for General Education, V. Sivankutty, announced the state will challenge the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that mandates all school teachers clear the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET). The Minister fears this ruling will negatively impact approximately 50,000 teachers in Kerala, potentially disrupting the education sector. The Supreme Court’s decision, stemming from the RTE Act and NCTE notifications, necessitates teachers appointed before the RTE Act came into effect with more than 5 years of service remaining to pass the TET within two years or face potential termination. Sivankutty criticized both the UPA and Modi governments for not protecting teachers when implementing legislation altering eligibility criteria. He emphasized that past changes to teacher qualifications in Kerala were always implemented with protections for current educators.
**News Article:**
**Kerala to Challenge Supreme Court Ruling on Teacher Eligibility Test**
**Thiruvananthapuram, September 8, 2025** – Kerala’s Minister for General Education, V. Sivankutty, announced today that the state government will file a review petition or approach the Supreme Court seeking clarification on its recent ruling that makes passing the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) mandatory for all school teachers.
Minister Sivankutty, speaking at a press conference, expressed serious concerns about the widespread impact of the apex court’s judgment, stating it could adversely affect as many as 50,000 teachers across Kerala. He warned that the ruling could disrupt the education sector, potentially bringing school activities to a standstill.
The Supreme Court’s decision dictates that teachers appointed before the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act came into force, and who have more than five years remaining until retirement, must clear the TET within two years to retain their positions. Failure to do so could result in compulsory retirement with terminal benefits. Teachers with less than five years of service as of September 1, 2025, are exempt from the TET requirement but will be ineligible for promotion.
“The court examined Union government laws and rules. The Union government should make fresh legislation to overcome the situation that has arisen since education was on the concurrent list of the Constitution” Sivankutty said.
Sivankutty criticized both the Congress-led UPA government, which passed the RTE Act in 2009, and the subsequent Modi government, which amended it in 2017, for failing to implement measures to protect teachers before enacting legislation that altered eligibility criteria. He highlighted Kerala’s past practice of safeguarding teachers’ positions when changes were made to qualification requirements.
Teachers’ organizations in Kerala have urged both the State and Union governments to intervene in the matter. The state government’s decision to challenge the ruling signals its commitment to addressing the concerns of educators and mitigating potential disruptions to the education system.
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