The Tamil Nadu School Education Department has officially announced that three special Teachers’ Eligibility Tests (TET) will be held in January, July, and December 2026, following the Supreme Court’s directive mandating that all teachers handling Classes 1 to 8 must clear the TET to continue in service and be eligible for promotions.
In a government order dated October 13, 2025, the department stated, “Based on the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the Government of Tamil Nadu has decided to conduct special TET examinations for serving secondary grade and graduate teachers in January, July, and December 2026.”
Special TET 2026 Schedule and Notification Details
According to the official order, the Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB) has been authorised to conduct and issue notifications for these special TET examinations. The first TET 2026 notification is expected in the last week of November 2025, with the first phase of exams (Paper I and II) scheduled for January 24 and 25, 2026. Notifications for the July 2026 and December 2026 special TET exams will be released in due course.
| Exam Phase | Tentative Exam Dates |
| January 2026 Special TET | January 24 & 25, 2026 |
| July 2026 Special TET | July 2026 |
| December 2026 Special TET | December 2026 |
Supreme Court’s Directive on TET
The Supreme Court has made it mandatory for all teachers teaching Classes 1 to 8 in government and government-aided schools to clear the TET within two years. The ruling emphasizes that passing TET is a “prerequisite for promotions” and that no exemptions will be granted, except for teachers who have less than five years of service left before retirement.
This move is intended to standardize teaching quality and ensure that all educators meet the minimum professional benchmarks required for effective classroom instruction.
Impact on Teachers and Statewide Statistics
According to data from the Tamil Nadu School Education Department, over 1.7 lakh government school teachers are yet to qualify the TET. The ruling also affects teachers in private and aided schools, who must clear the exam to retain their teaching positions.
To support these teachers, the department has instructed all District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) to conduct special coaching sessions and preparatory programs ahead of the upcoming exams.
A senior department official said, “The TRB has been directed to ensure the smooth conduct of all three special TETs in 2026 and to consider holding additional rounds in 2027 based on the number of unqualified teachers.”
Review Petition Filed by the State
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court, seeking clarification on certain aspects of the judgment, including its retrospective application for teachers who were appointed before TET became mandatory.
TET Performance Statistics
Since its inception in 2012, Tamil Nadu has conducted six TET examinations, with a total of 37.28 lakh candidates appearing. However, only about 1.68 lakh candidates (4.5%) have successfully cleared the exam. The upcoming special TETs in 2026 are expected to provide another opportunity for thousands of serving teachers to secure their eligibility and advance their careers.
The Tamil Nadu government’s decision to hold three special TET examinations in 2026 marks a significant step toward improving the quality of education and ensuring teacher accountability across the state. With structured coaching, transparent examination processes, and compliance with the Supreme Court’s directive, the initiative is set to bring positive reforms to the teacher qualification system in Tamil Nadu.
