Teaching is one of the most respectable professions that you can opt for as a career prospect. If you’re truly serious about pursuing a career in teaching, keep an eye out for UGC NET, CSIR UGC NET, KSET and CTET Notification. These are just some of the few eligibility tests that offer respectable teaching positions with decent salaries.
While some bodies conduct these exams to offer vacancies for primary and elementary school teachers, others also incorporate positions like Assistant Professor and Professor, once the exam is cleared. Be it any position or institution, these exams provide you with a golden chance to inspire and motivate students to realize and exceed their potentials.
On that note, let’s talk about some of the exams that you must know of, if you’re a teaching aspirant at heart.
CTET (Central Teachers Eligibility Test) – The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducts CTET twice a year to shortlist candidates for appointment as teachers in classes I to VIII. Paper I is conducted for candidates who plan to teach classes I-V and Paper II is conducted for candidates opting for classes VI-VIII. Once the aspirant chooses whether he wants to appear for one or both the papers, the CTET Admit Card is issued, and he/she is expected to score 60% for qualification in General category and 55% for reserved category.
UGC NET (University Grants Commission – National Eligibility Test) – UGC conducts NET to shortlist Indian citizens for the posts of Assistant Professor only or Junior Research Fellowship & Assistant Professor Both, in Indian Universities and Colleges. The awarding of the Junior Research Fellowship and/or Eligibility for Assistant Professor is determined by the combined performance of the appearing candidate in Paper-I and paper-II of UGC-NET. Ideally, this exam is held in the month of June every year, and all candidates filling the form should possess a postgraduate degree with 55% marks at the very least. Both papers combine for a duration of 3 hours and do not contain negative marking.
CSIR NET (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – National Eligibility Test) – Commonly known as CSIR UGC NET, this is an exam conducted twice every year at the national-level by the National Testing Agency (NTA), and is meant to select candidates for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and for appointment of deserving candidates as lecturers in Indian universities and colleges. It is only conducted for five subjects, namely, Chemical Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean & Planetary Sciences. And therefore, candidates who are able to clear the CSIR NET exam eventually become lecturers in the subject areas that fall under the faculty of Science & Technology only.
KSET (Karnataka State Eligibility Test) – Conducted by the Karnataka State Eligibility Test (KSET) Center, University of Mysore, Mysore (which is the nodal agency recognized by the UGC), KSET shortlists aspirants for the post of lectureship/Assistant Professor in Karnataka. Once qualified, the selected candidates are governed by rules put forth by the Lecturers / Assistant Professors of Universities / Institutions (Government/ Aided /Private) / Colleges of Karnataka State. There is no stipulated upper age limit to meet in the eligibility criteria for KSET.
Even though teachers never get their share of the spotlight, their role in laying the conceptual foundations cannot be underestimated. Not everyone can inspire students, become a mentor, and not just by teach a subject, but share a bond as well. For aspirants who think they stand fit for such responsibilities, opportunities are aplenty. The only other ingredient required is the grip over subject matter and the clarity of thought to explain concepts effortlessly.