Patna, Jan 17 (IANS): The Bihar government has decided to sack over 2,500 contractual school teachers after they failed to clear two consecutive competency tests, officials Friday said.

"The education department has completed its formalities to sack those teachers who failed twice in competency test," an official of the department said.

Bihar Education Minister P.K. Shahi told IANS here that the department has begun the process to sack those teachers after they failed twice in competency test.

"The government has no option but to follow the rules," Shahi said.

As many as 2,734 contractual school teachers are to be sacked.

In 2012, the state government had sacked 151 teachers after they failed to clear two consecutive competency tests.

According to officials, the teachers were tested for knowledge of English, Mathematics, Hindi and General Knowledge for up to Class 5.

The test was to check the quality of teaching in schools following complaints of poor teaching standards.

"The test was to review their ability to teach. If they failed to clear it, the government has made it clear that they should either improve or leave teaching," said Principal Secretary (Education) Amarjeet Sinha.

He said that for those who failed the test for the first time, there will be another chance. But those who failed for the second time would lose their jobs as per government norms.

Bihar has been conducting such eligibility tests for school teachers since 2008.

Last year more than 10,000 contractual school teachers in Bihar failed a competency test.