Ranchi, May 31: The result of a recruitment test conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) for primary teachers has been more than discouraging.

More than 40,000 candidates had applied for 8,700 vacancies in schools across the state, but only 371 have managed to qualify. The result of the 2008 examination, which was published yesterday, has left the JPSC and the state HRD department that had requisitioned the test in a fix.

Sources blamed the change in marking pattern for the poor performance. They said the JPSC had fixed minimum qualifying marks for every individual subject — five in total — instead of aggregate qualifying marks.

Talking to The Telegraph, HRD secretary Mridula Sinha said she was yet to be officially informed about the outcome, but conceded that the question papers might have been difficult for the candidates.

The subjects included in the test were general studies, Hindi or English, physics/chemistry/ botany/zoology/mathematics, geography/history/civics and tribal/regional languages.

The JPSC website suggests that out of a total 100, the pass marks for general studies for open/OBC category was 40 while the same for SC/ST candidates was 30.

Group A comprised Hindi and English. Out of a total 30 marks, 13.50 was the pass marks for open/OBC candidates while 12 for SC/ST candidates.

The total marks for group B (physics/chemistry/botany/zoology/mathematics) was 35. The minimum qualifying marks for open/OBC was 15.75 and 14 for SC/ST.

Group C tested candidates in geography/history/civics. The total marks was again 35 and minimum cut-off set was same as group B.

In group D (tribal/regional languages), out of 30, the pass marks for open/OBC category was 13.50 and for SC/ST 12.

A teacher of a government school said dividing the tests into five parts and setting minimum qualifying marks for each paper took a toll on the results.

With only 371 candidates qualifying, the JPSC and HRD department have few options now. They can either lower the minimum qualifying marks or conduct fresh tests to fill up about 8,400 posts of primary teachers lying vacant.

The third option is to let things be. The schools have been “functioning” thus for a decade.

A former state HRD official, who was at the helm of affairs in 2007-08, said the tests were conducted as per NCERT guidelines and it was really surprising that so few qualified. “This needs introspection,” he said.

He has a point. The results have been so dismal that not a single seat reserved for SC, ST and OBC categories have been filled up in the districts, except Ranchi.