Vijayawada: Teacher unions in Andhra Pradesh have intensified their agitation against the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) requirement for in-service teachers, with organisations demanding relief for those who were appointed before TET became compulsory.
The protests have gained momentum in Vijayawada, with multiple teacher organisations stepping up demonstrations and announcing further programmes to press the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led State government to intervene with the Union government.
The Andhra Pradesh United Teachers’ Federation (APUTF) has announced an indefinite hunger strike from September 4 at Alankar Centre in Vijayawada. The federation said the decision followed unsuccessful attempts to get the State government to address the concerns of serving teachers.
The issue has become contentious because many teachers who have already served in schools for several years are now required to qualify in TET to meet eligibility conditions.
Teacher unions demand exemption for experienced teachers
The APUTF has urged the State government to seek an amendment to Section 23(1) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, commonly known as the Right to Education Act.
The federation wants teachers appointed before TET was made compulsory to receive appropriate relief from the requirement. It has argued that teachers who entered service under the rules applicable at the time of their appointment should not be subjected retrospectively to a new eligibility condition.
The organisation has also demanded a lower qualifying mark of 40% for in-service teachers and permission for them to take the examination in the subjects they teach.
In addition, the federation is seeking changes to the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) guidelines and has called for an offline examination system.
Demonstrations continue in Vijayawada
The Andhra Pradesh Teachers’ Federation (APTF) has also continued its protest at Dharna Chowk in Vijayawada.
The organisation has demanded an offline Special TET specifically for serving teachers and questioned the need for experienced educators to clear an eligibility examination after years of service.
APTF State general secretary K Basava Linga Rao has argued that requiring teachers with decades of experience to qualify through a new examination is unreasonable. The organisation has also alleged that incorrect information has been reaching the State’s Human Resources Development Minister and warned that the agitation could be expanded if the government does not respond to the demands.
The protests reflect growing concern among teachers who fear that failure to meet the TET requirement could affect their careers despite their years of classroom experience.
Special TET already announced
The State government has already announced a Special Teacher Eligibility Test for eligible in-service teachers.
According to the official information bulletin, the Special TET for in-service teachers was notified on August 24, 2026. Eligible candidates can apply online from August 25 to September 24.
The examination has been designed for in-service teachers appointed before 2011 who need to fulfil the mandatory TET qualification requirement. The examination is scheduled to be conducted in computer-based test mode from October 11 to October 21, 2026.
The government’s decision to conduct a Special TET has provided a specific opportunity for affected teachers, but unions continue to demand broader relief.
Why teachers are opposing the requirement
At the centre of the dispute is the question of whether TET should be applied to teachers who were recruited before the examination became a mandatory qualification.
Teacher organisations maintain that many serving educators were appointed according to the qualifications and recruitment rules that existed at the time. They argue that imposing a new examination requirement after years of service places experienced teachers in an uncertain position.
For teachers who have spent many years teaching children, the requirement is viewed not simply as another examination but as a condition that could affect their professional security.
Unions are therefore seeking recognition of their existing qualifications and experience, along with a policy that takes into account the circumstances under which they were originally appointed.
Government faces pressure to find a solution
The protests put the Andhra Pradesh government under pressure to find a balance between maintaining teacher eligibility standards and addressing the concerns of experienced educators.
TET was introduced as part of efforts to establish minimum standards for teachers. However, applying the requirement to teachers already in service has generated a different set of concerns.
The dispute has also brought attention to the larger question of how changes in educational standards should be implemented for employees who entered government service under earlier rules.
Teacher unions believe the government should take up the matter with the Union government and seek an amendment that provides relief to eligible pre-TET appointees.
More organisations may join agitation
The APTF has warned that the agitation could grow into a joint movement involving several teacher organisations if the government fails to respond to their demands.
The possibility of wider participation could increase pressure on the administration, particularly as teachers’ organisations seek a common position on the TET issue.
The APUTF’s indefinite hunger strike beginning on September 4 marks another escalation in the campaign. The organisation has made several specific demands covering eligibility marks, examination mode, subject choice and changes to national teacher-education guidelines.
Meanwhile, the government’s Special TET process is already underway, with applications open until September 24 and examinations scheduled for October.
A crucial test for education policy
The dispute highlights the challenges governments face when implementing new qualification standards among employees who were recruited under earlier regulations.
For the State, TET is intended to ensure that teachers meet prescribed standards. For the protesting educators, however, years of classroom experience and the qualifications they possessed when they were appointed should also be recognised.
Finding a solution that protects teaching standards while addressing the concerns of experienced teachers will therefore be crucial.
As the agitation intensifies, the coming weeks are likely to determine whether the Andhra Pradesh government can reach an understanding with teacher unions or whether the protests will expand further.
For thousands of serving educators, the issue is about more than an examination. It concerns their professional security, recognition of their experience and the rules under which they entered public service. The government’s response will be closely watched by teachers, unions and the wider education community.