Online application portal for 13,421 primary teacher posts goes live today

Kolkata: The West Bengal Board of Primary Education (WBBPE) will open its online portal on Wednesday, November 19, to accept applications for the recruitment of 13,421 primary teachers, state Education minister Bratya Basu announced on Tuesday.

In a statement on X, Basu said the portal would allow TET-qualified candidates to apply for assistant teacher posts in government-aided and government-sponsored primary and junior basic schools. Highlighting the significance of the initiative, he said: “Under the wisdom, guidance and positive stewardship of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, this recruitment process is set to further strengthen the foundations of primary education—it goes without saying.”

The Board, which issued the recruitment notification on September 26, is expected to announce the portal’s opening time, detailed schedule and district-wise vacancy break-up before the process begins.

According to the notification, applicants must be at least 18 years old as on January 1, 2025. The upper age limit is 40 years, with relaxations applicable to candidates belonging to SC, ST, OBC-A, OBC-B, PwD, ex-servicemen, exempted categories and para teachers. Candidates must possess the requisite academic and teacher-training qualifications and must have cleared the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) conducted by WBBPE. Selection will be based on a 50-mark evaluation matrix—Madhyamik results (5 marks), Higher Secondary (10), teacher training (15), TET score (5), extra-curricular activities (5), viva voce (5), and where applicable, an aptitude test or para teachers’ teaching experience (5).

The application fee has been fixed at Rs 600 for general candidates, Rs 500 for OBC-A and OBC-B, and Rs 300 for SC, ST, EWS and PwD applicants. Basu added that School Education department is hopeful of completing nearly 50,000 teacher appointments in a transparent manner within the year, including those through WBSSC.