Bihar STET aspirants protest in Patna; demand exam before TRE 4

Thousands of Bihar Teacher Eligibility Test (STET) aspirants protested in Patna, demanding Bihar STET exam be held before the Teacher Recruitment Examination (TRE-4). The protesters say STET is mandatory to qualify for government teaching posts in secondary schools.

The Bihar government had earlier announced that TRE-4 recruitment would begin in 2024. However, the STET exam is scheduled to be conducted only before TRE-5 in 2026. This decision has led to sustained protests by aspirants who argue that the delay in STET excludes many candidates from fair participation in the recruitment process.

According to several media reports, protesters gathered at Patna College and marched to key city locations, including Gandhi Maidan and Dak Bungalow crossing. Police set up barricades and deployed personnel to manage the crowds. Earlier demonstrations resulted in clashes and police using a lathi charge.

The aspirants demand that the government conduct the STET exam before TRE-4 to ensure the eligibility of candidates. They contend that without STET, many qualified candidates will lose their opportunity to compete for teaching jobs.

“If the Bihar government does not immediately address the issues of STET candidates, then remember, the students' struggle will intensify on the streets. The patience of the youth is breaking, and now agitation is the only way to make the deaf government listen,” an aspirant post on X.

An educator posted on X, “Lathi charge on STET candidates in Patna! Hundreds of students demanding the exam before TRE-4 were peacefully protesting, but the police brutally wielded batons. Two students’ heads were split open — is asking for a job now a crime?”

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Bihar Education Minister Sunil Kumar has stated that the STET exam will be conducted only after the vacancies for TRE-4 are released. According to News18 reports, he said that holding the exam now would increase the number of pass-outs, complicating the selection process, as around four lakh candidates are currently awaiting teacher appointments through BPSC.

Kumar added that future STET exams will follow the old Bihar Board system. He emphasised that the government’s decisions aim to benefit all candidates and ensure transparency in the recruitment process.

Sunil Kumar also announced that the Education Department will soon make over 6,000 appointments on compassionate grounds and has sent a proposal to BPSC for 7,000 posts for teachers for Divyang students.