The West Bengal School Education Department has asked authorities to start preparing for the Teacher Eligibility Test for in-service primary teachers. This step follows the directions of the Supreme Court. The department has asked the West Bengal Central School Service Commission and the West Bengal Board of Primary Education to begin the groundwork. This includes planning logistics and execution. The directive mainly applies to teachers who were appointed before the Right to Education Act came into effect in 2009. Scroll down to get more details.
Why This Test Is Happening Now
The move follows a Supreme Court judgment dated September 1, 2025. The case was State of Uttar Pradesh vs Anjuman Ishaat-E-Taleem Trust and Others. The Court made it mandatory for such in-service teachers to qualify TET under prescribed conditions. Later the Court passed a review order on May 29, 2026. This order extended the compliance window from two years to three years. Teachers now have time until August 31, 2028 to qualify. The Court has made it clear that this deadline will not be extended further. The Court also directed that TET exams should be held regularly. Ideally the exams should happen twice a year with a gap of around six months. This gives teachers enough opportunities to qualify.
How Many Teachers and Who Is Exempted
According to sources in the School Education Department nearly 90000 teachers are expected to take the test. These teachers teach Classes 1 to 8 in West Bengal. However teachers with five years or less of remaining service have been exempted from the requirement. This exemption follows the directions of the Court. The notification was issued by Special Secretary Chandranath Roy Chowdhury. It has been forwarded to WBSSC and the Primary Education Board for necessary action. The state government is now expected to finalise the exam schedule and related arrangements in the coming months.
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