Govt plans to scrap test for non-govt teaching position candidates

The government has planned to recruit teachers at non-government educational institutions by repealing the existing qualifying test for NTRCA certificate, made mandatory for candidates for teaching positions since March 2005.
The BNP government in early 2005 made it mandatory for people to pass a qualifying test to become candidates for teaching positions in non-government secondary schools, madrassahs and colleges to stop corruption in teacher’s recruitment.
The Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority arranges the test once a year and the candidates who qualify are given a certificate which is mandatory to become candidates for teaching positions in non-government educational institutions.
‘A significant number of ruling party activists are lobbying for jobs in schools and colleges, but such aspirants have not passed the qualifying test. The education minister is also facing pressure from different quarters to recruit people having no NTRCA certificate,’ an education ministry official said.
‘A five-member committee has been formed to find out how to relax the existing qualifying test at least for certain areas. In the first phase, the government will relax the qualifying test for the aspirants from the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Sylhet region, Gopalganj and Rangpur so that party activists can be recruited,’ he said.
‘The NTRCA certification put in place a good system for the recruitment of quality teachers. Lending agencies such as the World Bank also suggested that such qualifying test should be introduced. The present government is going to destroy the system,’ a joint secretary of the ministry said. ‘Before introduction of the certification, anyone could be appointed teachers and all such teachers received salary from the state exchequer.’
Under the supervision of the Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority, four such tests had been held since 2005 when the authority was commissioned.
Successful candidates get a certificate valid for five years. Candidates are required to face 200-mark written examinations.
The parliament passed the Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority Act on February 9, 2005 to contain corruption in teacher’s recruitment. It came into effect on March 20, 2005.
Teachers without NTRCA certificates are not eligible for salary and benefits from the state exchequer.

Courtesy of NewAgebd