A teachers’ union in Maharashtra has formally demanded amendments to the Right to Education (RTE) Act, warning that the current Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) norms could lead to closure of schools and job insecurity for thousands of educators. The union submitted a memorandum under the leadership of State President and Principal Sudhir Ghagas, urging authorities to revise stringent rules that could impact teachers employed before the TET requirement was introduced. The memorandum was handed over to Rajesh Kankal, Deputy Director of Education (Mumbai Division), and a request was made to forward the concerns to Ranjit Singh Deol, Principal Secretary of the School Education and Sports Department.
This issue is important because TET was introduced to improve the quality of education, but many teachers across Maharashtra were appointed before these norms came into effect. These educators argue that applying new eligibility rules to old appointments is unfair and puts their careers at risk, despite years of service and experience in classrooms.
Schools that cannot meet TET-based staffing requirements fear losing recognition or facing legal action, which could eventually force them to shut down. Instead of improving education, the union believes rigid regulations may disrupt school functioning, especially in semi-urban and rural areas where teacher shortages are already a challenge. The situation raises bigger questions about how reforms should balance quality benchmarks with practical, long-term realities faced by schools and teachers.
Teachers’ Union Demands: Key Concerns
The memorandum highlights the following points:
- Teachers appointed before TET should not be removed or forced to requalify
- Schools should not lose recognition due to past appointments
- RTE Act guidelines must be updated to reflect ground realities
- Government should offer support to schools struggling with compliance
Why Schools Fear Closures
According to the union, many schools may shut down due to:
- Inability to replace experienced teachers with TET-qualified ones immediately
- Financial limitations in hiring new staff
- Risk of losing affiliation if they do not comply with norms
- Shortage of eligible TET-qualified teachers in rural belts
These concerns show that lack of policy flexibility could harm the education system instead of strengthening it.
Job Threat to Thousands of Teachers
- Thousands of teachers appointed before TET face uncertainty
- Many have more than 10–20 years of experience
- Losing jobs would not only affect livelihoods but also impact school functioning
- Teachers believe skill and classroom performance should matter alongside qualifications
Suggested Solutions by the Union
The memorandum proposes:
- Exemption or special consideration for pre-TET appointed teachers
- Bridge training or professional development instead of job termination
- A revised recruitment policy for new teachers only
- Clear guidelines to protect schools from sudden penalties
