Editor,
I wish to express concern regarding the selection process for the postgraduate teacher (PGT) post conducted by the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission. The PGT selection process consists of three stages:
Ä Recruitment test – A preliminary screening test.
Ä Mains examination (450 marks) – Comprising four papers:
Ä General English – 100 marks
Ä General Knowledge – 100 marks
Ä Concerned subject Paper-I – 100 marks
Ä Concerned subject Paper-II – 100 marks
Ä Viva voce and classroom teaching – 50 marks
While the examination aims to recruit competent teachers, the significant weightage given to General Knowledge (100 marks) in comparison to subject-specific papers raises questions about its impact on fair selection.
A teacher’s primary responsibility is to teach a specialised subject effectively. However, General Knowledge, which covers a vast and unpredictable range of topics, can sometimes become the deciding factor in selection. A candidate with strong subject expertise but limited general awareness may lose out to someone who excels in GK, despite the latter not necessarily being a better teacher. Since GK is not directly related to classroom teaching, its high weightage may unintentionally overshadow the importance of subject knowledge.
To ensure a fairer selection process, General Knowledge should be made a qualifying paper rather than a scoring one. Here are some possible ways to implement this:
Ä Set a minimum qualifying score for GK – Instead of adding GK marks to the final merit list, candidates should only be required to pass it with a minimum percentage (eg, 30-40%). This would ensure that basic awareness is tested without it becoming the deciding factor.
Ä Reduce GK weightage – If GK is to remain in the merit calculation, its weightage could be reduced to 50 marks, while subject papers could carry more marks to reflect their importance in teaching.
Ä Remove the GK paper entirely – Given its vastness, it hampers the preparation of concerned subjects, which should be the primary focus for a teaching position.
The goal of the selection process should be to identify the best subject experts who can also teach effectively. Making General Knowledge a qualifying paper would ensure that it serves its purpose without overshadowing the importance of subject expertise. Therefore, it is requested to the authorities concerned to look into this matter for a more balanced and just recruitment process.
PGT/TGT aspirant