The Bihar government has decided to discontinue the State Teacher Eligibility Test (STET) for recruitment of government teachers from Class 1 to Class 8. Candidates will now have to qualify only the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) for eligibility.
Earlier, the Education Department had indicated that the STET would not be conducted at present and that a decision on holding an eligibility test could be taken later. However, the latest update confirms that recruitment will proceed solely on the basis of CTET scores.
This development comes amid demands from candidates who were waiting for STET ahead of the fourth phase of the Bihar Teacher Recruitment Examination (BPSC TRE 4). Aspirants had urged authorities to conduct STET before initiating the next recruitment phase.
Key Changes After Discontinuation of Bihar STET
Several changes are expected following this decision:
- The CTET syllabus is based on NCERT curriculum, while STET followed the Bihar SCERT or state board syllabus.
- CTET is a national-level examination and is generally considered more competitive than the state-level STET.
- CTET traditionally does not test regional languages. However, Maithili language will now be included.
- The shift may increase participation of candidates from outside Bihar.
- Some experts believe STET better addressed local educational needs compared to CTET.
- The decision is expected to significantly impact state-level teacher recruitment patterns.
Single Eligibility Exam for Bihar Teachers
With STET discontinued, candidates now need to appear only for CTET. This eliminates the requirement to prepare separately for two eligibility tests. Candidates who qualify CTET can also apply for teaching positions in central government schools, expanding their career opportunities beyond Bihar.
CTET is conducted twice a year, allowing multiple opportunities to qualify. The exam places strong emphasis on pedagogy and child development, which may contribute to improving teacher quality if recruitment is based solely on CTET scores.
The move marks a structural shift in Bihar’s teacher recruitment framework and is likely to influence competition, eligibility standards, and candidate demographics in upcoming recruitment cycles.