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95% aspiring teachers flunk all-India eligibility test
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 8
As many as 95 per cent teaching aspirants in the country have flunked the all-India Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) meant to assess their knowledge and instruction abilities.

That's hardly an improvement over the test conducted earlier this year in which 98 per cent candidates had failed to display minimum eligibility to become teachers. Most of these candidates hold B Ed degrees, calling into question the quality of teacher education being imparted in universities.

The CBSE, which holds the CTET twice every year, has computed the results for its latest test held recently for the entire country, except Jammu and Kashmir. While only 11.95 pc candidates (24,629 out of 2,06,145) managed to clear paper 1 compulsory to be cleared by those wishing to teach primary level classes, a shockingly low 2.80 pc passed paper II, the eligibility test for those interested in teaching classes VI to VIII. These eligibilities were defined under the Right to Education Act, 2010 to set minimum benchmark for teaching and to improve learning outcome of students.

No improvement has been noticed in the results.

As per the law, anyone who wants to teach in a Central government school must clear the CTET. States can recruit teachers through CTET or their own tests. Delhi for instance follows CTET.

Overall pass percentage in TET this year is 5.63 with only 37,472 candidates clearing the two papers out of the 6,65,413 who took the test. The CBSE has failed to improve test results despite working on the difficulty levels of the test introduced in 2011 and holding the tests twice every year. The test validity is seven years post which a candidate must reappear.

CTET comprises multiple choice questions without any negative marking. It is open for those with Diploma in Education, BEd or those pursuing teacher education course recognized by the National Council of Teacher Education or the Rehabilitation Council of India.

Shocking results

• Only 11.95 pc candidates (24,629 out of 2,06,145) cleared paper 1 compulsory to be cleared by those wishing to teach primary level classes
• A shockingly low 2.80 pc passed paper II, the eligibility test for those interested in teaching classes VI to VIII
• Overall pass percentage this year is 5.63 with only 37,472 candidates clearing the two papers out of the 6,65,413 who took the test.