Thiruvananthapuram: The General Education Department under the Kerala government on Sunday revoked a circular that ordered the dismissal and demotion of schoolteachers lacking the mandatory Kerala Teacher Eligibility Test (K-TET) qualification. The withdrawal came after widespread criticism and intense flak from opposition-party-affiliated teacher organisations.

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The circular, issued by the Director of General Education on Saturday evening, applied to teachers appointed to aided schools after 1 September 2025. It instructed authorities to terminate staff appointed after this cut-off date if they lacked K-TET certification. Furthermore, staff promoted to higher posts after 1 September 2025 without the required qualification faced immediate demotion to their former positions, including Upper Primary teachers promoted to High School cadres. However, candidates recommended by the Public Service Commission after 1 September 2025 were granted temporary appointments, allowing them to regularise their service once they cleared the test.

Controversial directive withdrawn after widespread protests

The directive triggered severe anxiety among affected teachers, prompting teacher associations to launch strong protests. Amid the flak, the Education Department issued an order withdrawing the circular and announced that a new circular offering complete clarity would be issued later. Department officials earlier maintained that stringent enforcement was initially undertaken to comply with Supreme Court rulings making teacher eligibility tests compulsory.

Broader concerns over bureaucratic decision-making

Commenting on the development, former Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty raised serious concerns over the government's handling of teacher qualifications. He pointed out that during the previous government's tenure, teachers received job protection alongside sufficient opportunities to appear for and clear the exam without fear of losing their livelihoods.

Sivankutty said that officials appeared to make the decision without consulting teacher unions or considering practical challenges. He added that the episode reflects a wider administrative issue in which bureaucrats issue and withdraw orders without proper ministerial consultation, creating unnecessary panic among teachers. Teacher representatives have urged the government to permanently cancel the underlying order to resolve the issue conclusively.