Bengal’s Teacher Exam Sees 91% Turnout Amid Tensions
Nearly 3 lakh candidates take WBSSC teacher recruitment test.
Approximately 91% of 3.19 lakh candidates appeared for the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) School Level Selection Test (SLST) on Sunday, the first teacher recruitment exam since the Supreme Court nullified over 26,000 jobs in April due to a tainted 2016 recruitment process. Held across 636 centers with stringent security, the exam for assistant teacher posts for classes 9 and 10 saw significant participation, including over 31,000 candidates from states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, drawn by opportunities in West Bengal’s education sector.
WBSSC Chairman Siddhartha Majumdar hailed the smooth conduct, stating, “I thank the state administration for their support in ensuring a seamless process.” Security measures were robust, with a three-tier system including naka checks 100 meters from venues, barcode scanners for admit cards, and a ban on electronic devices, even for supervisors. Unique identification features on question papers helped curb malpractices, reinforcing transparency following the Supreme Court’s directive to bar 1,806 “tainted” teachers from reappearing.
Candidates expressed mixed sentiments. Satabdi Kanjilal from Basanti Devi College found the questions manageable, saying, “The exam was fair, and I’m hopeful to crack it, especially since my age limits future attempts.” However, Satarupa Banerjee voiced concerns about the 10 grace marks awarded to “untainted” teachers who lost jobs and retook the exam, fearing it could skew results. Subrata Biswas of the Deserving Jobless Teachers Rights Forum, one such teacher, called the situation “embarrassing,” lamenting, “We’re sitting with our students instead of invigilating, thanks to WBSSC and the state government.”
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The exam’s broader implications sparked political slugfests. Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh took a swipe at BJP-ruled states, noting on X that candidates from “Yogi Rajya” (Uttar Pradesh) and Bihar flocked to Bengal due to stalled or unreliable recruitment processes at home. “Bengal’s exams are open to all, with no harassment,” he emphasized. CPI(M) leader Shatarup Ghosh countered, alleging the TMC government would exploit outstation candidates for “cut money.”
The exam’s logistics were bolstered by Metro Railways operating from 9 AM to facilitate candidate travel. State Education Minister Bratya Basu congratulated all involved, stating, “The administration is committed to ensuring next Sunday’s exam for classes 11–12, with 2.46 lakh candidates across 478 centers, is equally transparent and secure.”
The upcoming test on September 14 will continue the recruitment drive, aiming to restore credibility to West Bengal’s education system after the 2016 scandal, with the state prioritizing fairness and opportunity for all aspirants.
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