25/02/2026
The decision to make the Teachers Eligibility Test mandatory for in-service teachers is a reform that will bring about the intended systemic improvements and yield positive outcomes in due course.
Given their experience and commitment, teachers are well-placed to qualify for the test. As a measure, it was the need of the hour—aimed at strengthening professional standards and improving the quality of service delivery, much like reforms undertaken in other departments.
What is unsettling, however, is not the reform itself, but the manner in which it is being perceived by some. Instead of being seen as a step towards academic strengthening, it is being viewed by certain quarters with a sense of sadistic pleasure, as though it were an indictment rather than an opportunity.
When guided by trust in their commitment and respect for their role, this systemic reform will contribute to strengthening the very foundations of our education system.
