Madhya Pradesh TET Gets Just 34,200 Applications From 1.5 Lakh Eligible Teachers

Teacher participation in the Madhya Pradesh Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) has remained far below expectations. Of the nearly 1.5 lakh teachers eligible to appear for the examination in the state, only 34,200 have submitted their applications. This includes around 20,000 teachers from government schools and 14,000 teachers from private schools.

The application deadline was extended three times, but the number of applicants still did not increase as expected. The low response has drawn the attention of the School Education Department, particularly because the number of eligible teachers is much higher than the number of applications received.

Preparations for the examination will now move forward with the collection of applicant details according to districts and divisions. Separate information will also be prepared for teachers from urban and rural areas.

The Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education, known as the Mashim, will analyse the figures after receiving the list of teachers who applied from the Employee Selection Board. The process of deciding the examination centres will be taken forward on the basis of this analysis.

The TET is likely to be conducted in the second week of December. However, the final date of the examination has not yet received official confirmation. The number of applicants from each district and division will be considered while deciding the examination centres.

The School Education Department started the TET application process in September. The last date for submitting applications was initially fixed as 11 October. After that, the deadline was extended three times. Even after the extensions, applications did not rise in line with expectations.

The department is assessing the reasons behind the limited response. In some parts of Madhya Pradesh, teachers have also been opposing the requirement to appear for the examination. The reaction of teachers, along with other reasons for the low number of applications, is being examined.

A relaxation has been given to teachers who are more than 57 years old and have five years or less remaining before retirement. However, this relaxation does not remove the requirement to pass the TET for promotion. Even after receiving the benefit of the age-related relaxation, these teachers will not be eligible for promotion without clearing the TET.

The requirement to pass the TET is linked to the promotion of around 32,000 teachers in Madhya Pradesh. According to the department, clearing the examination will be necessary for these teachers to be considered for promotion.

The issue of making the Teacher Eligibility Test compulsory is connected with both employment and promotion under Section 23 of the Right to Education Act, 2009. The provision has therefore become an important part of the ongoing process involving eligible teachers in the state.

For teachers already in service, the final deadline for passing the examination has been fixed as 31 August 2028. This means eligible teachers have to clear the TET within the prescribed time limit.

The low number of applications, despite the deadline being extended three times, has put the focus on the next stages of the process. Attention will now remain on the examination schedule, the allocation of examination centres and the further steps to be taken by the department.