Bihar Education Department Implements Competency Exam Requirement for Contractual Teachers
The Bihar Education Department has introduced a new mandate, necessitating contractual teachers to pass a competency examination to ensure they meet specified standards. Contractual teachers must successfully complete the exam within three attempts, with failure leading to termination. The initiative aims to enhance the quality of education delivery in Bihar and emphasizes the importance of meeting competency standards for teacher retention. K.K. Pathak, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Education Department, announced the competency exam requirement in an official notice on Saturday. Pathak, also the Chairman of the competency examination committee, oversees the process, bringing comprehensive representation and expertise. In a significant decision on December 26, 2023, the cabinet conferred government employee status on around 3.5 lakh contractual teachers, formalizing their employment status. The cabinet emphasized the need for contractual teachers to pass the competency exam to attain state government employee status. Between February 1 and February 15, contractual teachers must complete the application process for the competency examination. Admit cards will be issued on February 16, facilitating their participation in the computer-based test with 150 multiple-choice questions, aligned with the Bihar Public Service Commission’s Teachers’ Recruitment Exam syllabus. Pass percentages for various categories are specified: 40% for general category, 36.5% for backward classes, 34% for backward classes (annexure 1), and 32% for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, women, and candidates with disabilities. Contractual teachers have the opportunity to transition to state government employees by submitting examination forms between February 1 and February 15, 2024. The examination is scheduled from February 26 to March 13, 2024, allowing teachers to formalize their status and advance their careers within the state government.