Kolkata: The West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) has announced the release of the much-awaited merit list for the recruitment of upper primary teachers. According to a notification issued on Monday, the merit list will be published on September 25, 2023. The SSC has also indicated that 10% of the available positions will be reserved for temporary teachers, while the remaining vacancies will be filled based on the merit list.
This announcement comes on the same day that several teacher aspirants staged a massive protest in Salt Lake’s Karunamoyee, demanding their appointments. Hundreds of candidates who passed the 2016 TET (Teacher Eligibility Test) expressed frustration over the prolonged delays in recruitment, which have dragged on since 2015. Despite repeated protests, they have not been appointed, even after numerous court rulings in their favor.
14000 Teachers Recruitment Before Durga Puja, SSC to Release Upper Primary Merit List on September 25
Key Points:
- SSC will release the merit list for upper primary teacher recruitment on September 25, reserving 10% of posts for temporary teachers.
- The decision follows a directive from the Kolkata High Court, which instructed SSC to release the merit list within a month, by the end of August.
- The High Court’s Division Bench, in its August 28 order, asked the SSC to fill over 14,000 vacant posts.
- Protesting candidates, who have been waiting for their recruitment since 2015, are demanding that the appointment process begins immediately after the merit list is released.
- The protestors also highlighted alleged discrepancies in police behavior, pointing out the contrast between how peacefully protesting junior doctors were treated compared to the forceful removal of teacher aspirants.
- The recruitment process for upper primary teachers has faced numerous legal hurdles, including cancellations by the High Court in 2020 and restrictions on SSC’s ability to make hiring recommendations in 2023.
- West Bengal’s Education Minister, Bratya Basu, has assured that efforts are being made to complete the recruitment process before Durga Puja.
As the candidates remain firm on their demands for immediate appointments, the upcoming release of the merit list is a critical development in the ongoing dispute over delayed teacher recruitment.