Education Minister Sakina Itoo Clarifies Stand on TET Implementation in Jammu and Kashmir; No Immediate Enforcement

SRINAGAR, February 25, 2026 — Education Minister Sakina Itoo officially clarified on Wednesday that the Jammu and Kashmir government has not issued any fresh orders regarding the mandatory Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) and confirmed there is no immediate requirement for its enforcement in the Union Territory.

Addressing reporters, the Minister acknowledged the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s directive requiring teachers across India to qualify for the TET but emphasized that the J&K administration is currently examining how this mandate is being applied in other regions before taking any formal steps.

She noted that the government is carefully studying the examination patterns, mechanisms, and practical implications observed in other states and UTs to ensure a well-informed transition, should one become necessary in the future.

Minister Itoo highlighted that while the concept of eligibility testing was envisioned during the tenure of late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and initiated under former Education Minister Naeem Akhtar through the RET framework, rushing into implementation now would be inappropriate.

She pointed out that many educators in Jammu and Kashmir have dedicated 25 to 35 years of service, producing generations of successful professionals, including doctors, engineers, and IAS officers.

Highlighting that the Supreme Court has provided a two-year window for the matter, she reassured the teaching community that there is no urgency. The Minister dismissed social media rumors causing confusion, reiterating that J&K will only take a considered call if the directive is uniformly enforced across the country and further judicial instructions are received.