NET/SET mandatory to get teaching jobs in Karnataka

To get the teaching jobs in Karnataka undergraduate colleges / universities, a Ph.D degree is not enough. The applicant also has to get certificates from NET and SET examinations.

Karnataka state have made it mandatory, that only candidate with National Eligibility Test (NET) and State Eligibility Test (SET) certificates can get teaching jobs from next academic year.

According to sources, the Karnataka State Council for Higher Education has taken this decision to improve the quality of education.

State higher education minister, R V Deshpande and vice-chancellors of state universities were in a meeting to take this decision.

The reason for the changes in the recruitment process was made because it was found that some of the universities award Ph.D degrees by taking money. But, this decision has not been approved by the aspirants and lecturers.

One of the aspirant Rajath said, "The University Grants Commission (UGC) has insisted on tougher measures in preparation of NET question paper and it is not that easy to clear the test. And UGC also changed the criterion while declaring eligibility."

Bangalore University College Teacher's Association (BUCTA), president Prof Nagaraj said, "If the government takes such measures, it would be difficult to fill the vacant posts, as the number of candidates with NET or SET is very less in the state."

According to the statistics, only 5% of candidates have cleared the NET/SET from the state.