Protect fairness

The Jammu and Kashmir government has designated the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE), along with the State School Standards Authority (SSSA), as the nodal agency for conducting the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) across the Union Territory. As per the decision, in-service teachers with more than five years of service remaining must clear the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) within two years, which is a significant reform. By linking continuation in service to professional qualification, the government has sent a clear message i.e. the quality education cannot be compromised. The move seeks to uphold academic standards in government schools. The TET is designed to ensure that teachers possess the minimum required pedagogical skills and subject knowledge. In an era when learning outcomes are under scrutiny, strengthening teacher competence is both necessary and timely. Students deserve educators who meet uniform benchmarks of quality. However, implementation must be humane and supportive. Many in-service teachers were appointed under earlier norms, when TET was not mandatory. Expecting them to now qualify within two years, failing which they may have to quit or face compulsory retirement, can create anxiety and uncertainty. The government must therefore complement this directive with structured training modules, refresher courses, study leave provisions, and multiple examination opportunities. The exemption granted to teachers with less than five years of service left is pragmatic. Forcing near-retirement staff to undergo high-stakes testing would serve little long-term institutional benefit and could disrupt the system. Reforms in education must balance accountability with empathy. Raising standards is essential, but so is recognising years of service rendered by teachers who have shaped generations. If implemented with fairness, transparency and adequate support, this policy can strengthen classrooms without undermining morale, ultimately benefiting both educators and students across Jammu and Kashmir.