Question 30 from UPSC CSE 2018 - Current Affairs/Gener al awareness

Question

Consider the following statements:
1. As per the Right to Education (RTE) Act, to be eligible for appointment as a teacher in a State, a person would be required to possess the minimum qualification laid down by the concerned State Council of Teacher Education.
2. As per the RTE Act, for teaching primary classes, a candidate is required to pass a Teacher Eligibility Test conducted in accordance with the National Council of Teacher Education guidelines.
3. In India, more than 90% of teacher education institutions are directly under the State Governments.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 2 only

Strategy: - **Statement 1:** The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), not state councils, sets minimum teacher qualifications. This invalidates Statement 1.
- **Statement 2:** Passing the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) under NCTE guidelines is a core criterion for teaching primary classes as per the RTE Act. This confirms Statement 2 as correct.
- **Statement 3:** Over 90% of teacher education institutions are private, not state-run. This makes Statement 3 incorrect.

Therefore, only Statement 2 is valid.

Key Info: ## Right to Education (RTE) Act and Teacher Qualifications

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, is a landmark law guaranteeing free and compulsory education to all children aged 6 to 14 years.

### Key Provisions and Facts:
- **Minimum Teacher Qualifications:** Section 23 of the RTE Act empowers the Central Government to authorize the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) to lay down the minimum qualifications for teachers. These include academic qualifications and passing the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET).
- **National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE):** Established under the NCTE Act, 1993, the NCTE is the apex statutory body in India for regulating teacher education and setting professional standards.
- **Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs):** The vast majority of TEIs--over 90%--are in the private sector. Rapid privatization since the mid-1990s led to most new colleges being established as private entities. Public institutions, such as District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs), form only a small fraction.
- **Teacher Eligibility Test (TET):** The TET is mandatory for all appointments to teaching positions for Classes I-VIII. It is conducted separately at central and state levels to maintain uniform standards, always adhering to NCTE guidelines.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: 1 and 2

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: 1 and 3

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: 3 only