West Bengal implements teacher testing mandate and probes medical fraud

The West Bengal School Education Department has directed school authorities to prepare for the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service primary teachers. This follows a Supreme Court mandate requiring TET qualification for teachers appointed before the implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. Approximately 90,000 teachers are expected to sit for the exam, though those with five years or less of service remaining are exempt. The deadline for obtaining this qualification is August 31, 2028.

Separately, the West Bengal Health Department is investigating five individuals accused of practicing medicine using fake degrees allegedly obtained from Bihar. The Association of Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes (APHN) reported that these individuals may have registered with the West Bengal Medical Council using fraudulent documents. The APHN has raised concerns regarding patient deaths and the potential misuse of the ‘Swasthya Sathi’ government healthcare scheme.