CTET online applications only till Aug 19

NAGPUR:Online application process for CBSE-conducted Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) have started and will continue till August 19. The eighth CTET will be held on September 20 and candidates have been asked to pay the requisite fee online either through e-challan or debit/credit card. After forms are submitted, payment can be made till August 20, after which no applications will be entertained.Since CTET application process is a completely online process, candidates can log on 24X7 and complete the formalities.
The board has reminded candidates about the importance of CTET, citing its requirements by various schools. A notice from CBSE says, “According to CBSE Affiliation Bye-Law 53, prescribing the minimum qualifications for teachers to teach various subjects in Classes I to VIII in the schools affiliated to CBSE stands amended to that extent and it shall be mandatory that the teachers appointed hereinafter i.e. March 6 2012 to teach classes I to VIII in the schools affiliated to the CBSE shall qualify/pass the Central Teacher Eligibility Test or Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), conducted by the appropriate Central/ State Government in accordance with the guidelines framed by the NCTE for this purpose”.
This exam is already compulsory for teachers applying for jobs to government schools affiliated to CBSE. CTET had always been an extremely tough test to crack for two reasons – the passing mark is 60% and time duration was less. TOI had reported earlier that teachers found the older time duration of 90 minutes inadequate to complete 150 questions in the multiple choice format. Now, the new time duration, introduced in 2013, allows one minute for every question which seems to be more acceptable to everyone.
The CTET is the biggest bi-annual exam held in the country with almost 10 lakh teachers appearing each time. This test is mandatory for new recruits to CBSE affiliated schools in the country but its ‘toughness’ had raised various questions. The exam results saw passing figures as low as 1%, which ultimately rose after the increase in time duration. The CTET consists of paper-I and paper-II. Paper-I is for teachers who want to teach from Std I to Std V, while paper-II is for those teachers who wish to teach from Std VI-Std VIII. There is no negative marking. A CTET certificate is valid for seven years after which teachers will have to reappear, if they want to change jobs.