CBSE wants NET, CTET Only Once a Year

Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar hints at the possibility of holding the exams only once a year.

The Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday hinted that the government might consider holding the examination only once in year as the number of students appearing for the bi-annual exams has reduced.

In a fresh bid to reduce the burden of holding multiple tests in a year, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has sought the government’s approval for holding the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) and the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) just once in a year.

Both of the nationwide tests are currently held twice in 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.

In its request to the Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry, the school board has contended that holding the UGC-NET once in every six month is not required as the number of candidates taking the test has gone down over the years.

In case of the CTET also, the school board has maintained that holding it just once in a year will be sufficient to fulfil the objectives. Official sources in the ministry indicated that the CBSE may get permission for holding the CTET once in a year.

According to sources, the government is considering making these changes after CBSE had expressed their unwillingness in conducting NET examinations twice a year. The board had said that they are already overburdened with conducting others examinations like NEET, JEE-Main for medical and engineering education and their own board examinations.

It was a suggestion from the CBSE that the test should be made an annual process. The proposal however is still at the stage of discussion and consultation.

The NET was conducted by the UGC till 2014 following which the job was handed over to the CBSE.