The window to register for the State Eligibility Test (SET), which is the mandatory qualifying exam to be cleared for appointment as a teacher in higher secondary schools and non-vocational teacher in vocational higher secondary schools in Kerala, is now open. Online registrations for SET could be done till 5 pm on April 25 and the test will be held at all district centres in July.
Contact details, fees
The test is being conducted by ‘Lal Bahadur Shastri Centre for Science & Technology’, a self-governing institution under the state government. Contact details are: LBS Centre for Science & Technology, Nandavanam, Thiruvananthapuram – 695 033; phone: 0471-2560311; e-mail: lbscentre@gmail.com; website: www.lbscentre.kerala.gov.in
Application fee is Rs 1,000 which has to be paid online. The amount for applicants belonging to Scheduled Caste / Tribe and differently-abled categories is Rs 500.
Pattern of test
SET has two papers, of which Paper One is compulsory for all applicants and includes questions on general knowledge and aptitude for teaching. Paper Two evaluates the knowledge of the candidates in the specific subject and would have post-graduate-level questions. Applicants can choose from among 31 subjects for Paper Two. Applicants who have earned their qualification in a subject not included in this list have to submit eligibility certificates from a university in Kerala.
Both papers have 120 objective-type questions each, which are to be answered in 120 minutes. Four options would be given as answers for every question and candidates have to select the most correct one. One correct answer carries four marks. There is no negative mark for wrong answers.
However, for Mathematics and Statistics, there will be 80 questions only, each carrying 1.5 marks. Syllabus of the test is available on the website.
Cut-off marks
Candidates who do not enjoy the benefits of reservation have to score more marks to clear SET. The minimum marks required by various categories to become qualified to serve as a higher secondary teacher in Kerala are as follows:
• General: 40% marks in each paper and 48% aggregate for Papers One and Two
• Backward: 35% in each paper and 45% aggregate
• Scheduled Caste/Tribe, Differently-abled: 35% in each paper and 40% aggregate.
Eligibility
Applicants for SET should have a Master’s degree in the related subject with at least 50% marks and a BEd in any subject.
Those who have passed the MSc-Ed course conducted by Regional Institute of Education with a minimum mark of 50% can apply for Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology.
A second class in MA (Communicative English) with 50% marks and BEd is another qualification to apply for SET.
Meanwhile, BEd is not compulsory to take SET in Anthropology, Commerce, Gandhian Studies, Geology, Home Science, Journalism, Music, Philosophy, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology and Statistics.
BEd is not mandatory also for applicants in Arabic, Hindi and Urdu if they possess DLEd / LTTC. Those who have MSc in Biotechnology with at least 50% marks and BEd in Natural Science too can take SET. Correspondence / Open degrees not recognized by a university in Kerala will not be considered.
However, students currently preparing for the final BEd exam after earning a PG and those appearing for the final PG exam after having obtained a BEd earlier can sit for SET. Such applicants need to present the qualifying certificates only within one year after the announcement of SET results.
There is no upper age limit to apply for SET. A five-percent relaxation in marks is available for Scheduled Caste / Tribe and differently-abled candidates.
For more details on the procedures to apply, check https://lbsedp.lbscentre.in/setjul23