No respite to the CBSE: HRD Ministry wants UGC-NET, CTET twice a year

The system to continue till a National Testing Agency is set up and operationalised

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will have to conduct the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) and the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) twice a year till the proposed National Testing Agency is set up and operationalised.

Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Prakash Javadekar made it clear, saying a National Testing Agency to be set up by the Government will conduct all these tests.

“The CBSE will continue to hold these tests. There will be no changes (in their periodicity). We are hoping to set up the National Testing Agency by next year,” he told DH, when asked.

The school board recently sought the Government's approval for holding the UGC-NET and the CTET just once in a year in a fresh bid to reduce its burden of holding multiple tests every year.

Both of the nation-wide tests are currently held twice a year. While the UGC-NET determines the eligibility of candidates for faculty positions in universities and colleges as well as the grant of junior research fellowship (JRF), the CTET is conducted to determine the eligibility of candidates for teaching jobs in schools.

The school board also conducts four other nationwide tests including the Joint Entrance Examination-Main (JEE-Main) for admissions to National Institutes of Technology (NIT) and other engineering colleges, besides holding the board examinations for Classes X and XII.

“We are well aware of the problems of the CBSE. A proposal to set up National Testing Agency is ready and it will soon be placed before the Union cabinet for its approval,” a Ministry official said.

The CBSE has been requesting the Ministry to reduce its burden of holding multiple examinations since last year, maintaining that it was not able to focus on its prime responsibility. More than 18,000 schools are affiliated to the board across the country.