Only one out of every eighteen aspirants who appeared for the
Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) 2014 cleared the exam, raising
questions over the quality of training given to teachers in the country.
Out of 6.6 lakh candidates appearing for the exam from across the
country on September 21, only 37,472 cleared it. While 5.6% of
aspirants cleared both papers in the CTET, only 11.9% cleared paper –I;
2.8% cleared paper-II. The papers tests teachers’ knowledge in the
languages and the subjects they will be teaching.
The results in this test was just a tad better than the last exam
conducted in January when only 2% students passed the exam. The CTET
exam, conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), is
mandatory for teachers who teach classes 1 to 8.
The dismal performance of teachers has raised concern among
experts. “It is shocking to see that a majority of teachers passing from
teacher training institutes cannot clear a basic eligibility test that
tests their knowledge,” said Basanti Roy, former divisional secretary of
the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary
Education.
Roy said that the reason for the bad results is the reluctance by
teachers to update their knowledge. “Teachers maybe good in delivery but
they lack content knowledge. As the syllabus is advancing, teachers too
need to constantly be updated on their subject,” she added.
On the other hand, principals of CBSE schools said that
teachers who
do not teach languages failed in language papers, especially Hindi. All
candidates have to mandatorily appear for Hindi and English papers and
the minimum passing marks is 60%.
“
If science teachers are made to answer language tests, obviously
they will not perform well,” said Raj Alonee, principal of Ram Sheth
Thakur Public School, Kharghar. “Those who have not studied Hindi after
school or college find the test very difficult. Teachers from Mumbai are
particularly facing this problem.”
Some principals also blamed those candidates who gave the test after a
long break from their studies for the poor results. “Candidates who
have cleared BEd or MEd five or six years back and giving the test now,
have lost touch with their subjects and are unable to clear this
theoretical exam,” said Avnita Bir, principal of RN Podar School,
Santacruz.
