Shillong, April 24: Meghalaya Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Friday hit back at Voice of the People Party (VPP) president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit for accusing the state government of harassing teachers by asking them to clear the Meghalaya Teacher Eligibility Test (MTET).
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| Meghalaya Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui and VPP president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoi. (File Photo) |
Responding to the allegation, Rymbui termed the statement “condemnable” and said the opposition leader had failed to understand the legal basis behind the government’s decision. He remarked that Ardent “sees everything through his black glasses,” which prevents him from seeing the truth on the issue.
The minister clarified that the Teacher Eligibility Test is mandated under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, and further reinforced by a Supreme Court ruling dated September 1, 2025.
According to the ruling, all teachers must clear the Teacher Eligibility Test regardless of their length of service. Only teachers with five years or less remaining before retirement are exempted from appearing in the test, though they will not be eligible for promotions.
Rymbui stressed that the government is legally bound to follow the ruling, noting that the directive applies across the country and not just in Meghalaya.
He added that the Meghalaya government, along with other states and teachers’ organisations including the SSA Association, has already filed a review petition in the Supreme Court considering the contributions of long-serving teachers.
However, until the ruling is changed, teachers must clear the TET by August 31, 2027.
To support teachers, the minister said the government will conduct the TET at least twice, and possibly three times, before the deadline. The Education Department, through the Directorate of Educational Research and Training (DERT), has also published guidebooks to help teachers prepare for the examination.
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Rymbui also revealed that he has written to the Union Education Minister, while the Chief Minister has urged the Centre to consider amending the RTE Act to exempt long-serving teachers.
Appealing to teachers not to be misled by political statements, the minister assured that the government would continue working with all stakeholders to address the issue and strengthen the education sector in the state.
