The Teacher Eligibility Test, known as TET, is the minimum qualification required in India for a person to be eligible for appointment as a teacher for Classes I to VIII. The test is mandatory for teaching jobs in Indian government schools. There are two papers: Paper 1, for teachers of Classes I to V, and Paper 2 for Classes VI to VIII. The TET is conducted both by the central and state governments of India. Most states conduct their own TET. The test is conducted to meet the objectives of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.
History
The Teacher Eligibility Test was introduced by the Government of India in 2011 to improve standards in teaching. Teachers already working were expected to pass the exam within two years.
The Test
The exam is based on the Government of India's National Curriculum Framework for Teacher Education, and is a mandatory qualification for incoming teachers for Classes I through VIII. People with professional teaching qualifications, including the B.T.C, B.Ed, and B.El.Ed, are eligible to take the test. Candidates must score over 60% to pass. The Central Board of Secondary Education maintains the TET database and guides government bodies on conducting the test.
Central Teacher Eligibility Test
The CTET was established when, in accordance with the provisions of sub-section of Section 23 of the RTE Act, the National Council for Teacher Education received notifications dated 23 August 2010 and 29 July 2011 stipulating minimum qualifications for eligibility to teach Classes I to VIII. Passing the TET, conducted in accordance with NCTE Guidelines, is an essential requirement for appointment as a teacher in any of the schools referred to in clause of section 2 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act. The national Ministry of Human Resource Development entrusted responsibility for conducting the Central Teacher Eligibility Test to the CBSE, Delhi, which conducts the CTET twice a year. The CTET is held in 20 Indian languages. Approximately 14 lakh candidates apply to sit the examination. The thirteenth edition of CTET was held on 8 December 2019 in 110 Indian cities. Candidates must score a minimum of 60% to become CTET Qualified, and the certificate is valid for seven years. Successful candidates become eligible to apply for recruitment as teachers of Classes I to VIII in schools under the purview of the Central Government, and schools under the administrative control of the union territories of Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The examination is demanding, with qualification rates of 1-14% in the exams held to date. The TET was made a necessary prerequisite for appointment as a teacher to meet the following objectives:
To establish a national benchmark and standards for teacher quality and recruitment
To encourage further improvement in the performance standards of teacher education institutions and their students
To communicate the Government's particular focus on teacher quality
TET weighting in the District Selection Committee teacher selection entrance examination is 20%. Some 4 lakh candidates sat for the 2012 test. In February 2019, thousands of candidates sat the Andhra Pradesh TET examination, which was held in several test centers.
The Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Board holds its TET examinations once a year to select primary and junior teachers. The UPTET written exam comprises two papers:
Paper I: for primary level teachers
Paper II: for junior level teachers
Candidates may sit either or both papers. In 2016, the UPTET written examination was held on 19 December, in two shifts. In 2017, UPBEB published its examination notification on 22 August, and the written exam was conducted on 15 October. In 2018, the UPBEB notification was scheduled for publication on 15 September, with applications beginning on 17 September for the written examination on 28 October.
The Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education organizes the Rajasthan Teacher Eligibility Test for teachers in Rajasthan state. Teacher Eligibility Tests are conducted twice a year, for two levels, Level 1 and Level 2. Candidates have 2 hours and 30 minutes in which to answer 150 questions. The Level 1 examination paper is divided into five parts. The Level 2 examination paper comprises four parts, of which parts 1-3 are mandatory.
Haryana
The Haryana Teacher Eligibility Test is conducted by the Board of School Education Haryana from time to time, for the following categories of school teachers: Primary, Trained Graduate Teacher, and Post Graduate Teacher. Until 2009, the examination was known as the State Teacher Eligibility Test. In 2011, under the RTE Act, 2009, and pursuant to issuance of notification by the NCTE, it was renamed the HTET. The examination comprises three categories:
Level I: for teaching Classes I to V
Level II: for teaching Classes VI to VIII
Level III: for post graduate teaching
The HTET qualifying certificate is valid for a period of seven years from the date of passing the examination. There is no restriction on the number of times a candidate may attempt the test, and candidates who have already obtained the HTET/STET qualification may resit the test in order to improve their score.
Punjab
The Department of School Education, Punjab is responsible for conducting the Punjab State Teacher Eligibility Test, or PSTET, examination. The PSTET is conducted as two different papers for candidates wishing to join the Punjab School Education Board as teachers:
Paper I: for recruitment of teachers from Classes I to V
Paper II: for recruitment of teachers from Classes VI to VIII
Eligible candidates apply to sit the PSTET through the official Punjab School Education Board website.
