Primary Teacher Recruitment Case: NIOS D.El.Ed Candidates Allege Unfair Exclusion, Move Court
Primary Teacher Recruitment: The 2022 primary teacher recruitment process in West Bengal continues to be mired in controversy and legal battles. In a fresh development, the recruitment drive is once again under judicial scrutiny as a new case has been filed in the Calcutta High Court. Over 500 candidates who completed their D.El.Ed (Diploma in Elementary Education) from the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) have initiated this legal action, causing a stir across the state. Their primary allegation is that they are being unjustly excluded from the recruitment process.
Background and Core Allegations:
The West Bengal Board of Primary Education had initially announced recruitment for approximately 11,765 vacant teaching positions. Accordingly, TET-qualified candidates with D.El.Ed training were invited to apply. However, a subsequent notification from the Board sparked controversy. This new circular stated that only petitioners from a Supreme Court case would be eligible to participate in the document verification process, scheduled to commence on June 9th.
In the petition filed before the Calcutta High Court, the counsel for the NIOS candidates argued that the Board’s latest decision directly contravenes a prior directive from the Supreme Court. They contended that the apex court had deemed candidates who completed their D.El.Ed from the National Institute of Open Schooling eligible to participate in this recruitment process. Despite this, the Board’s new stance is effectively barring them.
The primary demand of the agitating job aspirants is the immediate inclusion of all eligible candidates who have passed from NIOS in the ongoing recruitment process, and for arrangements to be made for their document verification. According to them, the Board’s unilateral decision has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the future of many qualified candidates.
Court’s Next Steps:
The hearing for this significant case is expected to take place soon in the Calcutta High Court. Thousands of job aspirants are now anxiously awaiting the court’s verdict. This new lawsuit undeniably adds another layer of complexity and uncertainty to the 2022 primary teacher recruitment saga. There is a collective hope that the court will deliver a fair and swift decision, bringing an end to this prolonged period of anticipation.
This situation once again raises questions about the transparency and protracted nature of the state’s teacher recruitment processes. The exclusion of eligible candidates and continuous legal battles are not conducive to the future of the state’s education system. It remains to be seen what turn this legal fight will take and when the job aspirants will secure their rightful opportunities.
