Archive · 4 Sep 2026
Uttar Pradesh Special TET Excludes Contract Teachers Despite 2028 Deadline
Uttar Pradesh plans to hold a special test for teachers who do not yet have a required teaching qualification.
The test is for primary and upper primary school teachers.
Passing the test could help them keep their jobs.
The Supreme Court says all teachers must pass a Teacher Eligibility Test by August 31, 2028.
This rule includes both regular and contract teachers.
However, Uttar Pradesh plans to let only regular teachers take the special test.
About 1.4 lakh contract teachers, called Shiksha Mitras, will not be included.
Their association says this is unfair and wants them to be allowed to take the test.
Uttar Pradesh will hold a special Teacher Eligibility Test for primary and upper primary teachers without TET qualifications.
The special test is intended to help eligible teachers continue in service before the Supreme Court’s August 31, 2028 deadline.
Contractual teachers, including about 1.4 lakh Uttar Pradesh Shiksha Mitras, have been excluded.
The Supreme Court ruling applies to both regular and contractual in-service teachers.
The Uttar Pradesh Prathamik Shikshamitra Sangh called the exclusion discriminatory and demanded access to the test.
- Who
- The Uttar Pradesh government, regular in-service teachers and approximately 1.4 lakh contractual Shiksha Mitras are involved.
- What
- The government will conduct a special Teacher Eligibility Test for unqualified regular primary and upper primary teachers but exclude contractual teachers.
- When
- The decision was communicated on Wednesday; the Supreme Court deadline for TET qualification is August 31, 2028.
- Where
- Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Why
- The test is being arranged so teachers can obtain the required qualification and continue in service before the Supreme Court deadline.
Uttar Pradesh Government’s Approach
Contract Teachers’ Position
Access to the special test
Uttar Pradesh Government’s Approach
The government has decided to hold the special TET for primary and upper primary teachers without TET qualifications, but its stated process excludes contractual teachers.
Contract Teachers’ Position
The Uttar Pradesh Prathamik Shikshamitra Sangh says contractual teachers should also be allowed to appear because the Supreme Court ruling applies to them.
Fairness of exclusion
Uttar Pradesh Government’s Approach
The government’s decision distinguishes between regular and contractual in-service teachers for this special examination; the articles do not give a reason for that distinction.
Contract Teachers’ Position
Association president Shiv Kumar Shukla described the exclusion as discriminatory and said contract teachers could lose their jobs if they cannot clear the TET.
- Test
- Special Teacher Eligibility Test for primary and upper primary teachers
- Eligibility announced by Uttar Pradesh
- Regular in-service teachers without a TET qualification
- Excluded group
- Contractual teachers, including Shiksha Mitras
- Contract teachers in Uttar Pradesh
- Approximately 1.4 lakh
- Supreme Court deadline
- August 31, 2028
- Regular TET schedule
- States and the Central Board of Secondary Education generally hold TET twice a year