Bhopal, April 4: Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Digvijaya Singh, has written to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, urging a reconsideration of the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for teachers in government schools. He also suggested filing a review petition or a curative petition in the Supreme Court.
In his letter, Singh noted that the Right to Education Act was implemented by the central government in 2009 and came into effect in Madhya Pradesh on April 1, 2010. Following this, the Supreme Court mandated that all primary and secondary teachers must pass the TET examination. However, teachers with five years remaining until retirement have been exempted from this requirement. Failure to pass the exam could lead to termination or retirement.
Singh pointed out that according to an order issued by the Madhya Pradesh education department in March 2026, all teachers must pass the TET exam, which is expected to take place in July-August 2026. This directive has caused significant concern among over two lakh teachers in the school education and tribal development departments. For teachers who have served for 25 to 30 years, this requirement at the end of their careers is deemed unfair. The potential failure could jeopardize the livelihoods of thousands and create economic distress for their families. Additionally, the necessity of such an exam for teachers aged 40 to 50 has also been questioned.
In his letter, Singh mentioned that affected teacher organizations are preparing to file review petitions in the Supreme Court, which would impose additional financial burdens on them. He suggested that the state government should represent the teachers’ interests in court, providing them with financial relief and strengthening trust in the government.
The letter emphasized that the Supreme Court’s decision was related to the state of Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh was not a party to that case. Despite this, the requirement has been enforced in the state. Madhya Pradesh already has a rigorous examination system through the Professional Examination Board, which has been used for the appointment of teachers for grades 1, 2, and 3.
Singh concluded by recommending that the state government file a review petition or a curative petition in the Supreme Court to present its case.
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