Eligibility test finds only 10% of candidates fit to be teachers

A few days ahead of the Teacher's Day, the quality of teacher training has come under scanner, with 90% of aspiring school teachers failing to qualify the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) 2013, the results of which were declared on Monday.

A few days ahead of the Teacher's Day, the quality of teacher training has come under scanner, with 90% of aspiring school teachers failing to qualify the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) 2013, the results of which were declared on Monday.

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The competency and skill test conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for the aspiring teachers shows that of the 7.76 lakh candidates who appeared for the exam in July this year, only 77,354 qualified.

Only those candidates are given eligibility certificates who secure 60% and above marks. Last year, only 1% of the aspirants could pass the exam. A maximum of two tests can be held in a year.

There are two papers based on multiple choice questions for the CTET- paper 1 for those interested in teaching classes 1 to 5 and paper 2 for those aspiring to teach classes 6 to 8. A candidate is supposed to pass both papers if he wants to teach all these classes.

Of the 286,537 candidates who appeared for paper 1, only 33,184 qualified (11.58%). In the second paper, 590,083 candidates appeared and only 7.49% passed. The pass percentage in both the papers was higher for women compared to men.

The CTET was introduced in 2011 by the government to improve the quality of teaching in schools after the enactment of the Right to Education Act. Besides helping in improving the performance standards, it was aimed at sending a positive signal to all stakeholders.

The CTET certification has been made mandatory for classes I to VIII in any central government school, while the CBSE affiliated schools can either recruit teachers based on the CTET or the commensurate test conducted by the states.