Expect more teachers in 2012

By Richha Bhatnagar

The number of applicants planning to make a career in the teaching domain is increasing.

Students are looking safe and secure career, consequently more and more students are opting for teaching as a profession. Last Sunday, Central Teachers' Eligibility Test (CTET) 2012 was held and about 8000 candidates have appeared for the test as compared to 2400 last year. CTET is conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). It is a mandatory exam to secure a career as a teacher in Central government and CBSE schools.

About 8.16 lakh candidates have registered for exam across the country. Vineet Joshi, CBSE chairman said that it is the second time of the exam and it is gaining worldwide acceptance by the candidates. It is also expected that more teachers will clear the exam and will prove eligible to teach.

CTET is composed of two tests of 90 minutes each. Paper one has been designed for candidates who want to teach students from Class 1 to Class 5 while the second paper is designed for candidates who want to teach students of Class 6 to Class 8. The minimum marks to be attained in the test are 60%. In 2011, only 97,919 of the 7.15 lakh (13.6%) candidates cleared the CTET.

This exam is conducted once in a year and its certificate is valid for 7 years. CTET has made its debut in 2011; therefore, the number was low. But as it is the second year of the exam, more awareness has been created amongst students and consequently, the number of candidates has also increased. A candidate should clear the CTET to be appointed as a teacher with a Kendriya Vidyalayas and government schools. Even private CBSE schools will prefer candidates who have cleared the CTET.

This test was made mandatory under the guidance of Right to Education Act and CBSE was entrusted the responsibility of conducting CTET by ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD).

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