PATNA: Only about 18 percent of the candidates in Bihar who appeared in the teachers’ eligibility tests in July managed to clear the examination, according to results announced by Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) on Thursday.
The results came as yet another shock after a disappointing performance by students in matriculation and intermediate examinations in the state earlier this year. In the Class 12 results announced in May, 70 percent science students and 76 percent arts students had failed. Only 50.12 percent of the 17.23 lakh matriculation examinees passed.
“Of the 43,794 candidates who appeared in the Paper I of teachers’ eligibility tests for classes I to V this year, 7,038 passed, which is 16.07 percent. Results of 1,954 candidates were withheld for various reasons,” said BSEB chairperson Anand Kishore.
In the paper II examinations, held for aspirant teachers for classes VI to VIII, 30,113, or 17.84 percent, of the total 1,68,761 candidates who appeared passed, added Kishore. Results of 9,397 candidates were withheld for various reasons, he added.
“Such poor results indicate that candidates available in Bihar willing to take up teaching jobs at schools are just not equipped for it. Strictness during the TET examinations to eliminate chances of cheating may also have been a reason for such poor results,” said educationist Nawal Kishore Chaudhary.
Meanwhile, the state government has decided that serving teachers who have failed to clear TET in three attempts would be relieved of their jobs. With nearly 5,000 teachers falling in this category, teachers unions are opposing this decision. Last month, the Bihar CM had directed officials to prepare a list of nonperforming teachers and forcefully retire them.