Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Minister of General Education and Labour V Sivankutty told the Assembly on Tuesday that the Kerala government will take steps to address concerns raised by teachers following a Supreme Court ruling on Kerala Teacher Eligibility Test (K-TET) qualifications.

Responding to a question raised by MLA M Vijin, Sivankutty said the government is exploring legal options, including a possible review petition in the Supreme Court, to resolve the issue.

The court, in its September 1 verdict, ruled that teacher eligibility as per the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) notification dated August 23, 2010, is mandatory, even for those appointed before the Right to Education Act came into effect. An exemption was granted only to teachers with five years or less of service remaining.

The verdict further stated that unqualified teachers will not be promoted, and they must attain the required qualification within two years or face removal from service.

The decision has sparked concern among teachers about job security and its impact on the state’s education system. In response, Sivankutty said the time for teachers without K-TET who entered service until the 2019–20 academic year has been extended, and another exam will be conducted this month.

Currently, 1,734 teachers in Kerala have been in service without K-TET since 2012–13. Sivankutty noted that cancelling the appointments of teachers who were recruited through a legal process under a later law could raise constitutional questions.

The minister assured the House that the government, in consultation with legal experts, will take necessary measures to safeguard the interests of teachers while complying with the court’s directives.