Tamil Nadu Teachers Face Mandatory TET Exam Following Supreme Court Ruling
Over 160,000 teachers across Tamil Nadu, India, appeared for the Special Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) on July 4-5, 2026, mandated by a September 2025 Supreme Court ruling requiring all teachers with over five years of service to pass to retain their jobs. The exam, conducted by the Teachers Recruitment Board, saw high turnout but drew criticism for difficult questions and lack of preparation time. Teachers' associations are urging the government to relax qualifying marks and adopt exemptions for advanced degree holders.
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Teachers' association urges Tamil Nadu education department to relax TET qualifying marks
The Tamil Nadu Graduate Teachers Federation (TNGTF) has petitioned the School Education Department to relax qualifying marks by an additional 5% in the special Teacher Eligibility Test (TET). The federation also requested special marks based on work experience and higher educational qualifications. This follows a September 2025 Supreme Court ruling that all teachers with more than five years of service must clear TET to continue their jobs, with no exceptions for promotions. In May 2026, the court extended the deadline by a year. TNGTF criticized the recent exam, noting over 60% of questions were from higher secondary classes, causing distress. They urged the government to adopt Kerala's model, exempting teachers who have completed NET, SET, or M.Phil from the exam.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Over 1.6 Lakh Teachers in Tamil Nadu Appear for Eligibility Test Paper-II
On July 5, 2026, over 160,000 teachers across Tamil Nadu appeared for Paper-II of the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET), conducted for teachers handling Classes VI-VIII and those seeking promotions. The exam followed a Supreme Court ruling in September 2025 mandating TET clearance for all teachers with more than five years of service, with a one-year extension granted in May 2026. While teachers found Paper-II easier than the previous day's Paper-I, they criticized the lack of preparation time, noting that questions were drawn from higher-level syllabi (Classes X-XI). Many teachers, some with over 20 years of service, expressed frustration at being required to retest. The Teachers Recruitment Board reported 1,67,743 registrations, with 6,814 absent. The exam was held across 38 centers in Chennai alone, with 966 personnel deployed. Teachers also noted that the psychology section was the hardest and that SCERT-provided training did not match the exam pattern.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Over 59,000 Teachers Take TET Exam Across Tamil Nadu
On July 5, 2026, 59,535 teachers across Tamil Nadu appeared for the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) Paper-I for in-service teachers, out of 61,386 registered candidates. The exam was conducted at 222 centers with strict security measures, including police support and a question paper control center. School Education Secretary B. Chandra Mohan confirmed preparations to maintain confidentiality and integrity. The TET Paper-II is scheduled for July 6, 2026, with 167,743 candidates at 613 centers. This follows a September 2025 Supreme Court ruling requiring all teachers except those with less than five years of service to pass TET to continue their jobs, with no exceptions for promotions. In May 2026, the court extended the deadline by one year.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.83 teachers absent for Special TET Paper I in Coimbatore district
On July 4, 2026, the Paper I Special Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for secondary grade teachers was held in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India. Following a Supreme Court directive, graduate teachers working in primary and middle schools must qualify in the TET. Out of 2,230 registered candidates, 2,147 appeared for the exam across eight centers, while 83 were absent. The Paper II Special TET for graduate teachers is scheduled for July 5, with 6,501 candidates expected to participate in the district.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Over 1,800 Candidates Take Teacher Eligibility Test in Erode, Tamil Nadu
The Tamil Nadu Teacher Eligibility Test (TNTET) commenced in Erode district on July 4, 2026, with 1,876 candidates appearing for Paper I at six examination centres. Paper I is for aspiring secondary grade teachers, while Paper II, scheduled for July 5, targets graduate teacher candidates, with 5,311 expected to take the exam at 20 centres. The Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB) conducts the test, which is mandatory for all teachers following a Supreme Court directive. Chief Educational Officer E. Manvizhi stated that the district administration appointed 26 Chief Superintendents, 26 Departmental Officers, and over 300 invigilators. A high-level coordination meeting chaired by the District Collector on June 25 involved police, health, transport, fire, electricity, and education departments. M. Ramasamy, Joint Director (Personnel) of the School Education Department, serves as monitoring officer and briefed officials on July 3 to ensure smooth conduct.
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