Shillong, Oct 27: The Meghalaya government will soon approach the Supreme Court with a review petition against its September 1, 2025 judgment that made the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) mandatory for all in-service teachers across the country.

Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui told reporters on Monday that the state is seeking an exemption for teachers who were appointed before the implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act.

“The judgment has a retrospective effect, and we want the Supreme Court to exempt teachers appointed before the RTE Act,” Rymbui said.

He explained that the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) had introduced new standards for teacher recruitment after the RTE Act came into force, and the Meghalaya government has since followed those norms.

The minister informed that the ruling could impact over 32,000 in-service teachers in the state, who will now be required to clear the TET within two years.

Rymbui expressed concern that many of these teachers may not be able to meet the new requirement within the stipulated timeframe. However, he clarified that teachers who have already cleared the Meghalaya Teacher Eligibility Test (MTET) or the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) will not be affected, as their services remain secure.

When asked about the State Education Commission’s recommendation to phase out underqualified teachers, Rymbui said the matter involves interpretation but reiterated that all recent appointments have adhered to NCTE guidelines.

He added that if the Supreme Court agrees to modify its order, it would change the situation significantly, ensuring that once teachers fulfill all required criteria, their qualifications remain valid under the law.