Teacher Eligibility Test

Teacher Eligibility Test known as TET is an Indian entrance examination for teachers.^[1] The test is mandatory for getting teaching jobs in government schools from Class 1 to Class 8. Paper 1 is meant for teachers opting for Class 1 to Class 5 and Paper 2 for Class 6 to Class 8. It is conducted by both Central government and State governments in India. Most states conduct their own TET.^[2] The test is conducted in order to fulfill and achieve the goals of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act.

History

TET was introduced by the Government of India in order to improve standards in teaching. It was held for the first time in 2011.^[3] For teachers already working, they are supposed to clear the exam in two years time.^[4]

The Test

The exam is based on National Curriculum Framework. The people who have the professional qualifications of Teacher Training such as B.T.C (D.El.Ed), B.Ed, B.El.Ed are eligible to take part in the test. It's a mandatory qualification for one who wanted to be a teacher from Class I to class VIII. A candidate has to score over 60 per cent to clear the eligibility test.^[5] The exam is divided into Paper 1 and Paper 2.

The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) maintains the database and guides the government bodies about conducting the test.

Central Teacher Eligibility Test

In accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1) of Section 23 of the RTE Act, the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) had vide Notification dated 23 August 2010 and 29 July 2011 laid down the minimum qualifications for a person to be eligible for appointment as a teacher in classes I to VIII. It had been inter alia provided that one of the essential qualifications for a person to be eligible for appointment as a teacher in any of the schools referred to in clause (n) of section 2 of the RTE Act is that he/she should pass the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) which will be conducted by the appropriate Government in accordance with the Guidelines framed by the NCTE. A candidate needs minimum 60% to become CTET Qualified and the certificate is valid for a period of 7 years. The qualified candidates become eligible to apply for teacher recruitment as and when it happens for Class I to VIII in schools that come under the purview of the Central Government (KVS, NVS, Central Tibetan Schools, etc) and schools under the administrative control of UTs of Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep and NCT of Delhi. The examination is tough with qualification rates of 1% to 14% in the exams held so far.

CBSE conducts CTET twice in a year.^[6] CTET 2016 exam is going to conduct on 21 February 2016 and 18 September 2016. CTET scores will release in March 2016 for CTET Feb and in October for CTET Sept. Approximately 9 lac applicants appear for the examination. CTET 2018 exam date is on 9 December 2018.^[7] This eleventh edition of CTET will be conducted in 20 languages in 92 Indian cities.^[8]

The rationale for including the TET as a minimum qualification for a person to be eligible for appointment as a teacher is as under:

• It would bring national standards and benchmark of teacher quality in the recruitment process;
• It would induce teacher education institutions and students from these institutions to further improve their performance standards;
• It would send a positive signal to all stakeholders that the Government lays special emphasis on teacher quality

The Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India has entrusted the responsibility of conducting the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) to the Central Board of Secondary Education Delhi.

Andhra Pradesh & Telangana

TET weightage is 20% in DSC for selection of teachers. Some 4 Lakh students appeared for 2012 test.

Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Board (UPBEB)^[9] conducts Teacher Eligibility Test once in a year for the selection of Primary and Junior Teachers in Uttar Pradesh. UPTET written exam contains 2 papers. Paper I is for primary level teachers and Paper II is for Junior level teachers. Candidates can appear for any of the Paper or can take both exams.

In 2016, the written exam for UPTET was held on December 19 in two shifts.^[10]

In 2017, UP Basic Education Board released the notification on August 22, and the written exam was conducted on October 15.^[11]

In 2018, UP Basic Education Board will release the notification on September 15, and the application procedure for the same will be started from September 17. The written exam is scheduled to be conducted on October 28, 2018.^[12]

Rajasthan

Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE)conducted Teacher Eligibility Test known as RTET is an entrance examination for teachers in Rajasthan state.

Teacher Eligibility Tests are conducted twice a year in the form of Level I and Level II.

Level I contains 150 questions which is divided into five parts such as – I, II, III, IV, V.

Similarly, Level II is divided into 4 parts out of which I, II, III are mandatory.

Question papers for both the levels will have objective type questions containing 150 questions in total.

Time duration given for candidates who appear for this exam will be 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Haryana Teacher Eligibility Test

Haryana Teacher Eligibility Test (HTET) is conducted by Board of School Education Haryana (BSEH) for categories of school teachers i.e. Primary (PRT), Trained Graduate Teacher (TGT) and post Graduate Teacher (PGT) time to time. Till 2009, it was called as State Teacher Eligibility Test (STET) but after 2009 by implementation of RTE Act, 2009 and issuance of notification by the NCTE in the year 2011, this examination was renamed as HTET. This test conducts in following Three Categories:

• Level I  : who intends to be a teacher for classes I to V (Primary Teacher)
• Level II : who intends to be a teacher for classes VI to VIII (TGT – Trained Graduate Teacher)
• Level III: who intends to be a PGT (Post Graduate Teacher)

The rationale for including the HTET as a minimum qualification for a person to be eligible for appointment as a teacher is as follows:

• It would bring state standard & point of teacher quality in the recruitment process;
• Those candidates who has qualified HTET/STET can also appear again for improving his/her score.
• The Validity Period of HTET qualifying certificate is five years from the date of passing HTET.
• A candidate may take this test many times for acquiring a Certificate as there is no restriction on the number of attempts.

Punjab State Teacher Eligibility Test

The Department of School Education of Punjab is responsible for conducting Punjab State teacher eligibility test or PSTET exam. The Punjab State Teacher Eligibility Test is conducted as two different papers.

Paper I for recruitment of teachers from Class I to V Paper II for recruitment of teachers from Class VI to VIII

The Punjab State TET paper I exam is conducted for the candidates those who want to join [Punjab School Education Board] as a teacher for the classes from 1st to 5th. The paper II exam is conducted for the candidates those who want to be a teacher of classes from 6th to 8th. The TET eligible candidates can apply for the Punjab Teachers Eligibility Test by using the official site of Punjab School Education board.

References

External links

• CTET official website