Teachers with over five years left for retirement must qualify by August 31, 2028
The Nagaland Directorate of School Education (DoSE) has made the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) mandatory for in-service Primary and Graduate Teachers, with certain teachers facing compulsory retirement if they fail to qualify within the prescribed period.
The notification was issued pursuant to the Supreme Court’s judgment dated May 29, 2026, in State of U.P. vs Anjuman Ishaat-e-Taleem Trust & Ors and subsequent directions issued by the Government of Nagaland, according to a DIPR report.
As per the notification, all categories of Primary and Graduate Teachers appointed before the enactment of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, and who had more than five years left before superannuation as on September 1, 2025, must qualify TET by August 31, 2028.
Teachers falling under this category who fail to qualify within the stipulated period would be compulsorily retired and paid the terminal benefits to which they are entitled, subject to the prescribed qualifying period of service under the relevant rules.
The requirement will also apply to all categories of in-service Primary and Graduate Teachers appointed after the enactment of the RTE Act, 2009.
However, teachers who had less than five years of service remaining as on September 1, 2025, may continue in service until superannuation without qualifying TET. Such teachers, however, will not be eligible for consideration for promotion unless they have qualified the TET.
The DoSE further notified that candidates aspiring for appointment as Primary or Graduate Teachers, as well as in-service teachers seeking appointment through promotion, must qualify TET to be eligible for consideration.
The directions apply to all categories of schools covered under Section 2(n) of the RTE Act, 2009, except schools established and administered by religious or linguistic minorities.
The DoSE said the applicability of the directions to minority schools would remain subject to the outcome of proceedings pending before the Supreme Court and any further orders passed in the matter.
The notification has come into force with immediate effect.
