The Maithili language may soon be included as a language option in the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET), according to local media reports from Bihar. The development follows the reported clearance of a proposal related to Maithili during a meeting of the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). The move addresses a long-pending demand from Maithili-speaking regions, particularly Mithilanchal.As per local media reports, the development was shared by BJP MP from Darbhanga, Dr Gopal Ji Thakur, who said the process has reached a crucial stage. He indicated that once Maithili is formally notified as a CTET language, candidates whose mother tongue is Maithili will be able to appear for the examination in that language. This, he noted, could help improve understanding of questions and performance, especially for candidates from rural backgrounds who have primarily studied in Maithili.
Expected impact on Maithili-speaking aspirants
Local media have quoted a number of these advantages, one among which is that aspirants not only in Bihar but also in the rest of the country, where the language is spoken, can benefit from the choice of Maithili. The language of the exam was Hindi or any other language in which the candidate was comfortable. However, not all the candidates were equally comfortable with these languages and, thus, it was difficult for some. Taking the exam in the mother tongue is, therefore, expected to make the exam more accessible and fair.
Languages CTET is conducted in
At present, CTET is conducted in 20 languages. Candidates are required to select two languages — Language I and Language II — at the time of application. The existing language options include:Hindi, English, Urdu, Sanskrit, Punjabi, Bengali, Assamese, Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Nepali, Konkani, Manipuri, Khasi, Garo and Mizo.Maithili is not currently included in the official list. If approved and notified, it would be added as an additional option for candidates appearing in the language sections of the exam.
CTET exam structure
The Central Teacher Eligibility Test is conducted by CBSE for candidates aspiring to teach in Classes I to VIII in central government schools and other institutions that recognise CTET scores.CTET consists of two separate papers:
- Paper I: For candidates intending to teach Classes I to V
- Paper II: For candidates intending to teach Classes VI to VIII
Candidates aiming to teach Classes I to VIII are required to appear for both papers.Paper I includes five sections:
- Child Development and Pedagogy
- Language I
- Language II
- Mathematics
- Environmental Studies
Paper II includes four sections:
- Child Development and Pedagogy
- Language I
- Language II
- Mathematics and Science or Social Studies/Social Science (depending on the candidate’s teaching subject)
Each paper consists of 150 multiple-choice questions, carries 150 marks, and has a duration of 2 hours and 30 minutes. There is no negative marking.
Awaiting official notification
Local media reports have shown that regulators have made progress, however, before the inclusion of Maithili in CTET notifications, an official confirmation from CBSE will be necessary. Changes in language choices, if any, will be announced formally through future CTET information bulletins.If implemented, the move would expand linguistic representation in the national teacher eligibility examination and mark an important step for Maithili-speaking aspirants.
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