Protest against Teacher Eligibility Test:Former BJP MLA writes to CM; protestors submit memorandums to collectors across state

Former BJP MLA Murlidhar Patidar has written a letter to Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav opposing the decision to conduct the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for teachers who have been serving for more than 25 years in primary and secondary schools. The move comes amid growing opposition from teacher organisations across the state, which held protests and submitted memorandums to district collectors on Friday. Teachers protest across the state Teacher organisations organised demonstrations across Madhya Pradesh under the call of the MP Government Teachers’ Organisation. During the protests, teachers demanded that the state government file a review petition in the Supreme Court, similar to steps taken by some other states. Earlier, the State Employees’ Association had also written to the Chief Secretary demanding the withdrawal of the order and asking the government to challenge it through a review petition. Teachers shocked by the order, says former MLA In his letter to the Chief Minister and School Education Minister Uday Pratap Singh, Patidar said that thousands of teachers who have been working in government schools for years with dedication and low salaries have played an important role in strengthening the state’s education system. Many of these teachers were initially appointed as Shiksha Karmis or contract school teachers, and they have been serving students for decades. Patidar said the order issued by the Commissioner of Public Instruction has left teachers shocked, as they are now being asked to prove themselves again through an examination despite years of service and experience. He added that the decision has created confusion and widespread dissatisfaction among teachers, making them feel insecure and pushing them towards agitation. Appeal to withdraw the order Patidar urged the Chief Minister and the School Education Minister to reconsider the decision and cancel the directive. He also suggested that the government should explore a solution keeping in mind the Supreme Court’s directions and the Right to Education Act, so that teachers appointed before the implementation of the Act are not subjected to an “insulting process”. If required, he suggested that amendments to the Right to Education Act could also be considered. He warned that if the issue is not resolved soon, teachers may intensify their protests, and he would personally support their movement. Demonstrations held in Bhopal and district headquarters In the state capital Bhopal, teachers gathered at the Collectorate office at 4 pm and staged a protest against the TET requirement. They later submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister through the district collector. According to Upendra Kaushal, working state president of the organisation, an order issued on March 2, 2026, by the Commissioner of Public Instruction directed thousands of teachers in the state to pass the TET exam, leading to widespread dissatisfaction. Teachers say rule was not part of earlier service conditions Teacher organisations stated that many teachers have been working for 20–27 years as Shiksha Karmis or contractual teachers. They said that at the time of their recruitment, the service rules did not include any provision requiring them to pass the TET exam. The Shiksha Karmi Recruitment Act (1997–98), the Teacher Recruitment Act (2008), and the State Education Service Recruitment Act (2018) also do not mention making TET mandatory for teachers already in service. The organisations also cited a Supreme Court ruling, which states that service conditions of employees cannot be changed after recruitment. They argued that making TET compulsory for teachers who have been serving for years is therefore unjustified. Several organisations extend support According to the organisers, the protest received support from several teacher and employee groups, including the Officers and Employees Joint Front, Teachers’ Congress, Provincial Teachers’ Association, State Employees’ Association, Low-Paid Employees’ Union, State Teachers’ Congress, Adhyapak Guruji Sangh, and Assistant Teachers and Teachers’ Front, among others. These organisations also participated in the demonstrations and supported the submission of memorandums across district headquarters in the state.