The state government has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court challenging its verdict that made the Teacher Eligibility Test (K-TET) mandatory for teacher appointments and promotions in government and aided schools.

General Education Minister V Sivankutty said the petition seeks a reconsideration of the ruling, citing the unique features of Kerala’s education system and the practical difficulties faced by teachers. He said implementing the verdict could affect the jobs of around 50,000 teachers across the state.

“Protecting teachers who have served the education sector for years is the responsibility of the government,” Sivankutty said. He pointed out that Kerala ranked first in the country in educational standards and literacy even before the introduction of K-TET. “In that context, the argument that teachers without K-TET are unqualified is not valid in Kerala,” he said.

Teachers who entered service before the introduction of K-TET in 2012 did not have an opportunity to qualify at the time, the minister said in a communiqué. The government has therefore sought an exemption from making K-TET mandatory for teachers who joined service before March 31, 2012, and has requested that they be allowed to continue in service until retirement.

The review petition also seeks a permanent exemption from K-TET for teachers holding higher qualifications such as NET, SET and PhD. It further urges the court to ensure that K-TET does not become a barrier to promotions for teachers currently in service.

Sivankutty said the verdict, in its present form, denies natural justice to teachers appointed before the 2010 notification issued by the National Council for Teacher Education. Reiterating the government’s commitment to addressing teachers’ concerns and safeguarding the quality of Kerala’s public education system, he said the state expects a favourable outcome for teachers through the review petition.