Karnataka: Common Entrance Test for appointment of guest teachers under Directorate of Minorities opposed

Teachers oppose Directorate of Minorities' plan to appoint guest teachers through CET, arguing that it's unnecessary and unscientific.

Teachers have strongly opposed the move by the Directorate of Minorities to appoint guest teachers for the 2025-26 academic year through a Common Entrance Test (CET) across the State for the vacant posts of teachers in schools under its jurisdiction, including Morarji Desai Residential School and Maulana Azad Schools. An order to this effect was passed on Friday, May 9.

Teachers have argued that such a CET is not required for the appointment of guest teachers in the Department of School Education, Department of Technical Education, Collegiate Education, and other departments, including universities.

Earlier, the Directorate used to give the responsibility of appointment of guest teachers to the Head Masters of the respective schools or District Officers of the Directorate at the district level. They used to invite applications from teachers and recruit guest teachers on the basis of demo, merit and seniority. In addition, teachers who had already been recruited in the previous years were being re-appointed.

However, this year, it has decided to conduct a CET across the State on June 1, 2025.

The examination will be held for 100 marks, and the question paper will be printed in Kannada and English. OMR sheets will be provided for writing answers. Questions will be asked for compulsory Kannada, compulsory English, Child Development and Pedagogy, and the Plans and Programmes of Minority Welfare Department.

It has been decided to publish the merit list of candidates by combining 40% average marks obtained in the CET, 20% marks obtained in graduation, 20% for BEd. and another 20% marks obtained in postgraduation.

“For the last five years, I have been working as a guest teacher in a residential school under the department. Every year, we were recruited as guest teachers on the basis of demo and merit. When all other departments, including the school education department, are selecting guest teachers through merit and seniority, it is not right that only the minority department is conducting an entrance exam,” said a guest teacher.