Working teachers eligible for Upper primary, Madhyamik recruitment exams: HC

The Calcutta High Court, on Wednesday, made it clear by an interim order that working teachers can apply for upper primary and madhyamik teachers’ recruitment examination. The court of Justice Debanshu Basak also said that the school service commission (SSC) would have to rework their notification stating that the already working teachers could participate in the recruitment examination.

Earlier, the state government had published the notification to recruit the teachers in secondary, higher secondary and upper primary level. The notification stated that only the candidates, who have 50 per cent marks in graduation along with teacher’s training degree, could apply for the job. There was no option for the working teachers to face the examination.

Soon after the notification, a law suit was filed at Calcutta High Court against the process of teacher’s recruitment in the state, which sparked tension among the aspirants. Two teachers — Prasanta Mistri and Sourav Saha filed a case in the court alleging that the state government notification has ambiguity over the educational qualification of the teachers in primary and secondary level.

However, the state Education department source confirmed that 10233 posts are vacant for the teachers of class IX and X (secondary level). On the other hand, there are 6296 posts vacant for XI and XII (higher secondary level). The government has also notified for recruitment of teachers in primary school. Around 41559 teachers will be recruited in government sponsored and basic primary schools. The primary teacher’s council confirmed that they will soon publish the district wise vacancy list so that the candidate could apply as per their priority. On Wednesday, the public prosecutor Tapan Mukherjee said that the jobless candidates will suffer, if the working teachers take part in the recruitment process.

The lawyer of working teachers Bikas Bhattacharya said that many teachers are now trying to relocate themselves near their house. They have to take care of their families as well. It would be beneficial for them, if they would qualify in the recruitment examination. It would also be better for the successful new examinees as state government could replace them to those vacant places.

The aspirants can apply online on West Bengal school service commission’s website. However, The West Bengal School Service Commission confirmed that the test will be conducted by them. It will be a paper of 55 marks but another 35 marks will be given on candidate’s educational background and 10 marks personality test will be there as well.

The age limit of the secondary and higher secondary level is till 40 years. A candidate, who is 20 year old, can also apply for the job. But the candidate under the reserve categories would get 3 years relaxation.