CBSE LAUNCHES ELIGIBILITY TEST FOR TEACHERS.

NAGPUR: The first ever central teacher eligibility test (CTET) will be conducted on June 26 by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). This test will be the qualifying exam for people intending to teach Classes I-VIII of central government-run schools where CBSE syllabus is taught.

The National Council for Teachers' Education (NCTE) had mandated a single eligibility test be held for teachers across the country. Clearing this test will now be mandatory for applicants who wants to teach at central government-run schools like Kendriya and Navodaya Vidyalayas. This was made mandatory under the Right To Education act (RTE) and the CBSE was asked to conduct the exam.

Private schools following CBSE syllabus may or may not insist on it. Also, existing teachers need not take it. It is only for new entrants. CBSE said in its website, "it is desirable to ensure that quality requirement for recruitment of teachers is not diluted at any cost. It is therefore necessary to ensure that persons recruited as teachers possess the essential aptitude and ability to meet the challenges of teaching at the primary and upper primary level."

The application forms for the exam will be available from April 15 and it can be submitted online till May 10. The exam will be on June 26 and results will be declared by July 27. There will be two tests held, Paper-I and Paper-II, on the same day. Paper-I will be for people who intend to teach classes I-V, and Paper-II for people who intend to teach classes VI-VIII. People wanting to be able to teach Class I-VIII will have to appear for both. There will be no negative marking.

Only candidates securing 60% and above will be issued the CTET certificate. The CTET will be held annually and its certificate will be valid for seven years. There are seven examination centres in Maharashtra with two being in Vidarbha (Nagpur and Amravati). The CBSE has also made it clear that schools owned and managed by the state government/local bodies and aided schools should consider the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) conducted by the respective. However, a state government may make use of CTET scores for its schools if it wanted.

Source:toi