MP to hold first teacher eligibility test on December 20; 34,199 teachers to sit offline exam

Madhya Pradesh will hold its first eligibility test for teachers on December 20. The examination is being held on the Supreme Court's order. The Madhyamik Shiksha Mandal (secondary education board) has fixed the date.

The Supreme Court has told the state government to check teachers' eligibility by conducting the test at three-year intervals up to 2028. The court has directed that two examinations be held every year, but only one can be held in Madhya Pradesh this year.

The board had written to the Commissioner, Public Instruction, saying it was ready to conduct the examination at any time after November 10. It had also proposed either December 13 or December 20. The Commissioner's office then gave its consent to December 20.

After the consent was received, board secretary Buddhesh Vaidya announced the date. According to a notice issued by him, the examination will be held at district headquarters and will begin at 11 am. The board will issue detailed instructions separately.

The number of teachers in the state who come under the eligibility test is said to be close to 1.5 lakh. On a proposal from the Commissioner, Public Instruction, the Karmchari Chayan Mandal (Employees Selection Board) had earlier started accepting applications for an online examination.

Meanwhile, teachers' associations demanded that the examination be held offline. They argued that teachers posted in villages are less proficient in using computers. After discussions with the school education minister and the chief minister, agreement was reached on an offline examination. The examination agency was also changed from the Employees Selection Board to the Madhyamik Shiksha Mandal.

After the Madhyamik Shiksha Mandal became the agency, the application deadline was extended twice. In all, the deadline had been extended three times. Even so, because teachers' associations are opposing the eligibility test, only 34,199 teachers applied. Of them, 20,000 are government teachers and about 14,000 are teachers in private schools.