Chennai, October 16, 2025: The Tamil Nadu government has announced that passing the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) will now be mandatory for promotions of all teachers handling Classes 1 to 8 in government and aided schools. The directive follows a Supreme Court order requiring all teachers to clear TET within two years to retain their positions and qualify for promotions.
Teachers with less than five years of service remaining before retirement are the only group exempted from this requirement.
Three Special TET Exams in 2026
To ensure compliance, the School Education Department will conduct three special TETs in 2026 — scheduled for January, July, and December.
The Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB) has been authorised to oversee the process, with the first notification expected in late November 2025.
The first TET (Paper I and II) will likely be held on January 24 and 25, 2026, while notifications for the July and December sessions will be released later next year.
Officials have confirmed that District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) will conduct special coaching programmes to help teachers prepare for the exams.
Over 1.7 Lakh Teachers Yet to Qualify
According to the School Education Department, more than 1.7 lakh government school teachers in Tamil Nadu have yet to clear TET.
The Supreme Court directive extends to private school teachers as well, reaffirming that TET clearance is non-negotiable for promotions or continued service.
A senior department official stated that TRB will ensure the smooth conduct of all three exams, and additional rounds may be scheduled in 2027 depending on the number of unqualified teachers remaining.
State Seeks Clarification on Retrospective Implementation
While implementing the order, the Tamil Nadu government has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court. The petition seeks clarification on whether the ruling applies retrospectively, as it may affect teachers who have served for several years without clearing TET.
Since its introduction in 2012, Tamil Nadu has conducted six TETs, with 37.28 lakh candidates appearing and only 1.68 lakh (4.5%) qualifying — highlighting the exam’s challenging nature.
Class 11 Public Exams Cancelled
In a parallel development, the state government has abolished the Class 11 public examination from the 2025–26 academic year, aligning with recommendations from the State Education Policy to reduce academic pressure and promote flexible learning.
Schools will now conduct internal assessments instead of board exams for Class 11, marking a significant shift in Tamil Nadu’s higher secondary evaluation framework.
The Class 11 public exam, introduced in 2018, was initially meant to ensure syllabus completion before Class 12. The latest policy revision focuses on stress reduction and holistic learning for students.
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