Teachers face mandatory qualification rule
Saqib Rather
Jammu, Feb 24: In a sweeping reform aimed at strengthening the quality of education, the Jammu and Kashmir government has designated the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE), along with the State School Standards Authority (SSSA), as the nodal agency for conducting the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) across the Union Territory.
The decision comes in compliance with a directive from the Supreme Court of India, which has made it clear that the provisions of the Right to Education Act are applicable to all schools except minority institutions. The ruling makes it mandatory for teachers to qualify the TET in order to continue in service, subject to certain exemptions.
According to a government order issued by the School Education Department, Civil Secretariat, Jammu and Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) along with the State School Standards Authority (SSSA) has been designated as the nodal agency for conducting the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) across the Union Territory.
According to officials, teachers appointed prior to the implementation of the RTE Act and having more than five years of service remaining will be required to qualify the TET within a period of two years. Failure to do so could lead to compulsory retirement, though they would remain entitled to terminal benefits as per existing rules. At the same time, those with less than five years left before retirement have been given relief from the requirement, but they will not be eligible for promotions without clearing the examination.
A senior official in the School Education Department said, “The government is committed to improving teaching standards, and this step ensures that every teacher meets a minimum level of competency in line with national benchmarks.”
The legal position has also been clarified by the Law Department, which noted that the Supreme Court’s ruling is binding on all states and Union Territories under Article 141 of the Constitution. An official explained, “This is not a localized reform; it reflects a nationwide mandate to professionalize teaching and ensure accountability across institutions.”
The examination process will be handled by JKBOSE, with applications to be submitted online through a system developed in coordination with the National Informatics Centre. Centres for the examination will be established at district headquarters as well as in Srinagar and Jammu, ensuring accessibility for candidates across the region.
Authorities have also outlined strict measures to ensure transparency and fairness during the examination. Invigilation duties will be assigned to senior teaching faculty, while security arrangements will include deployment of observers, use of electronic surveillance tools such as jammers, and assistance from law enforcement agencies where required.
The syllabus for the TET will follow guidelines prescribed by the National Council for Teacher Education, drawing from the Central Teacher Eligibility Test framework while incorporating region-specific academic requirements.
A JKBOSE official stated, “We are working on a comprehensive plan to roll out the examination smoothly. The aim is not only compliance with the court order but also long-term improvement in the education system.”
The government has directed that the entire process be completed within a two-year timeframe, with a detailed schedule expected to be announced soon. The move is being seen as a major step toward aligning Jammu and Kashmir’s education standards with national norms while ensuring greater accountability among teaching professionals.
