SHILLONG, APR 24: Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Friday hit back at the opposition VPP president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit for alleging that the state government was “harassing” teachers by directing them to clear the Meghalaya Teacher Eligibility Test (MTET), calling the statement “condemnable” and accusing the VPP chief of “not understanding the truth.”
“His statement alleging that we are harassing the teachers by asking them to clear the MTET is highly condemnable because he does not understand what the truth is. Before making such allegations, I feel he should first find out the reason behind such a decision,” Rymbui told reporters.
“However, Ardent, for some reason, sees everything through his ‘black glasses’ and through his dark lens, and that is why he does not see the truth,” he said.
The minister said the Teacher Eligibility Test is mandated under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, and was upheld by a Supreme Court ruling on September 1, 2025.
“The ruling says ‘all teachers must pass the TET, irrespective of the length of service, except those with only 5 years of service left, who are exempted from taking the TET. However, they lose out on promotion,’” he said.
“So now, who is misleading, who is harassing?” Rymbui stressed that the government is bound by law.
“We must understand that we are governed by law and we have to follow the law… This law, this Supreme Court ruling, does not apply only in Meghalaya; it applies across the whole of India,” he said, adding that only minority institutions are exempt for now pending referral to a Larger Bench.
“Therefore, to say that the Government is harassing teachers by asking them to take the MTET is very wrong because the teachers clearly know this,” he said.
The minister said the state had filed a review petition in the Supreme Court, as had other states and teachers’ bodies like the SSA Association.
“The government, too, because it understands and cannot forget the contribution of teachers who have served for decades, has also filed a review petition… and as of now the Supreme Court’s ruling of September 1, 2025, stands,” he said.
“Dear teachers, as things stand now, the Supreme Court’s ruling of September 2025 stands and all must clear the TET by August 31, 2027, except those with only 5 years of service left,” Rymbui said.
To support in-service teachers, he said the government will hold the TET “at least twice, if possible three times, before August 31, 2027.”
He added that while TET rules require D.El.Ed and 45% in Class XII, “we said all in-service teachers qualify…they can apply and appear for the TET.”
The Education department, through DERT, is providing preparation support.
“We have also published a Guide/Help Book for those taking the TET, because we want all to pass. They have taught for so many years; where will they go if the Supreme Court does not change its ruling by August 31, 2027?” he said.
Rymbui said he had written to the Union Education Minister and the Chief Minister had taken up with the Centre the need to amend the RTE Act “to exempt long-serving teachers.”
“To say the government is harassing teachers is wrong. I request teachers not to be misled by such people who do not understand… and do not understand what the law says,” he said.
“Prepare yourselves. The government is with you. We will work together with all stakeholders.”
Responding to potential criticism of the guide book, he said, “Yes, we publish it. It is because of this that the minimum pass percentage has increased by 30%. We want and are publishing this guide book because we want all teachers to pass.”
Inviting constructive input, Rymbui said: “I invite the VPP: please suggest how to overcome this legal obstacle that exists now… Perhaps through your suggestions, we can overcome it, which would be even better. Let us not blame each other. Suggest how to reform the sector, how to give quality education to students, and how we can build Meghalaya.”
