Pune: The Maharashtra Education Department is set to commence the second phase of its teacher recruitment drive through the 'Pavitra' portal, and the response from aspiring teachers has been significant.

Over 355,000 candidates have registered for the upcoming Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), a key qualification requirement for teaching in the state’s schools.

The TET, organized by the Maharashtra State Examination Council, is scheduled for November 10. Online registration was open from September 9 to 30, with the deadline for fee payment extended until October 4.

A total of 355,905 candidates have applied, with 153,416 registering for Paper 1, which qualifies them to teach classes 1 to 5, and 202,489 registering for Paper 2, which is required for teaching classes 6 to 8.

This year’s TET marks the first time the exam will be conducted in two years, with the last one held in 2021. The delay in the exam was largely due to administrative reasons, but the upcoming recruitment phase has drawn renewed interest from aspiring educators.

The first phase of recruitment under the 'Pavitra' portal is already in its final stages, and several thousand teaching positions are expected to be filled in the second phase. This backdrop of recruitment opportunities has likely contributed to the surge in applications for the TET.

Passing the TET is mandatory for anyone seeking to teach classes 1 to 8 in Maharashtra. Candidates who pass the exam will be eligible to apply for positions in schools across the state, making it a crucial step in the recruitment process.