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A complication has once again arisen regarding the MP TET. Acceding to teachers’ demands, the government had decided to conduct the exam in offline mode alongside the online format. However, the ESB has expressed its inability to conduct the offline examination.

A fresh hurdle has emerged regarding the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for over 1.5 lakh serving teachers in Madhya Pradesh. Responding to teachers’ demands, the government had decided to hold the exam in offline mode in addition to the online format. However, the Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board (ESB)—the agency responsible for conducting the exam—has expressed its inability to conduct the offline test. Consequently, the School Education Department now faces the challenge of finding an alternative agency for the examination.

CM Had Announced Offline Exam

On the occasion of Teachers’ Day, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav had announced that the TET would also be conducted in offline mode, accepting the teachers’ request. Following this, the School Education Department sent a proposal to the ESB to conduct the exam in offline mode as well. In its response, however, the ESB stated that it has been conducting only online exams for several years and has discontinued the infrastructure for offline testing. Therefore, it is not in a position to conduct the exam in any mode other than online.

Plans to Conduct Exam via New Agency

Following the ESB’s refusal, the School Education Department is now considering other options for the exam. Abhishek Singh, Commissioner of the Directorate of Public Instruction, stated that the ESB has currently expressed a willingness to conduct only online exams. Consequently, if an offline exam is to be held, an alternative agency must be arranged. The decision regarding which new agency will conduct the exam will be taken at the government level. Alongside the plan to engage a different agency, the department is also exploring other available options regarding the TET and related procedures.

Decision to be Taken After Chief Minister’s Return

Dr. Mohan Yadav is currently in Dubai and is scheduled to return to Bhopal on September 9. A decision regarding the agency to conduct the exam is likely to be taken after his return, following discussions between the School Education Department and the School Education Minister. The government also has the option of conducting the examination through the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC). However, the PSC has not previously conducted teacher eligibility or recruitment exams; it primarily handles examinations for senior-level posts. Consequently, a final decision is likely to be taken following discussions between the Chief Minister and the School Education Minister.

Uncertainty Surrounding the October 12 Exam

The ESB had initially prepared to conduct the TET exam starting October 12. However, with a search currently underway for a different agency to conduct the offline exam, the dates are likely to change. A new exam date may be announced once a new agency is selected, based on their testing infrastructure and available dates. As a result, the exam could be postponed from October to November or December, although no official announcement has been made yet. Meanwhile, the application deadline has been extended to September 18. Teachers who have already applied do not need to apply again; reports indicate that over 12,000 teachers have applied so far.

Demands for More Exam Centers

Teachers have raised demands regarding exam centers in addition to the mode of examination (offline). Currently, exam centers have been established in Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Khandwa, Neemuch, Ratlam, Rewa, Sagar, Satna, Ujjain, and Sidhi. Districts in the Sagar and Chambal-Gwalior regions have not been included in the list of exam centers. Teachers argue that centers should be set up at the district and block levels so that they do not have to travel to distant cities to take the exam. Once a new exam agency is finalized, the possibility of increasing the number of centers and modifying the arrangements may also be considered.