Teacher Eligibility Test

Teacher Eligibility Test known as TET is an Indian entrance examination for teachers. 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. The test is conducted in order fulfill and achieve the goals of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act. TET was introduced by the Government of India in order to improve standards in teaching. It was held for the first time in 2011. For teachers already working, they are supposed to clear the exam in two years time.


The Test

The exam is based on National Curriculum Framework. All graduates, including B.A, B.Sc, B.Com etc. are eligible to take the test. All B. Ed. graduates need to pass this exam to work as a teacher. A candidate has to score over 60 per cent to clear the eligibility test. The exam is divided into Paper 1 and Paper 2.

The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) maintains the database.

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. The examination is tough with qualification rates of 1% to 14% in the exams held so far.

CBSE conducts CTET twice in a year. 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.

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.

Source: Teacher Eligibility Test