Kerala Government Updates Teacher Eligibility Exam Guidelines

The Kerala government has announced new guidelines for the Kerala Teacher Eligibility Test (K-TET), making it a requirement for teacher appointments and promotions in government and aided schools. This update follows recent Supreme Court rulings and aims to clarify eligibility criteria for various teaching positions. Candidates with higher qualifications will no longer be exempt from the K-TET, and specific requirements for high school language teachers have been established. The changes also outline the promotion process for current high school teachers. Read on to discover how these updates will impact the education sector in Kerala.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 2, 2026, 16:25 IST

New Guidelines for Teacher Appointments in Kerala

The Kerala government has introduced new guidelines for the Kerala Teacher Eligibility Test (K-TET), which will be mandatory for appointments and promotions in government and aided schools. This decision follows recent Supreme Court rulings that mandated the eligibility exam for teachers.

The guidelines stem from a Supreme Court ruling on August 7, 2023, and a subsequent decision regarding writ petition number 1385/2025 and related civil appeals on September 1, 2025. The government clarified that it sought explanations from the Director of General Education and conducted a thorough investigation before issuing the revised rules.

Eligibility Criteria for Teacher Appointments

According to the new guidelines, candidates who pass K-TET categories I or II will remain eligible for appointments as Lower Primary (LP) and Upper Primary (UP) teachers. However, those who pass K-TET category III will only be considered for high school teacher positions.

Additionally, the government has specified that high school language teachers must possess qualifications from both K-TET category III and IV.

Changes in Exemptions for Higher Qualification Candidates

A significant change is the removal of exemptions previously granted to candidates with higher qualifications such as SET, NET, MPhil, PhD, or MEd from taking K-TET. The government stated that these candidates must now also pass the relevant K-TET category.

For promotions, only currently serving high school teachers with K-TET category III qualifications will be considered for promotions to principal and for transfers to Higher Secondary School Teacher (HSS) and HSS (Junior) positions.

The existing exemptions for candidates of the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) will continue. Candidates who pass the primary level of CTET will be eligible for positions as public education teachers, while those who pass the early level may be considered for teaching positions in Uttar Pradesh.

The government has confirmed that there will be no changes to the current promotion process for principals in higher secondary schools.