SLST Recruitment Movement: Alleging discrimination by the School Service Commission (SSC) and based on five legitimate demands, the new candidates of the Second SLST (State Level Selection Test) have called for a march to Bikash Bhavan on the upcoming 25th of September. Thousands of new aspirants from across the state are uniting for this campaign, foregrounding the demand to fill nearly one lakh vacant positions.
Why This Protest? What Are the Core Demands of the Aspirants?
In the recently concluded SSC teacher recruitment exam for the ninth-tenth and eleventh-twelfth standards, the total number of vacancies was 35,726. However, according to the job aspirants, a large number of teacher posts have been lying vacant in state schools for a long time. Therefore, they have demanded an immediate increase of this number to 1 lakh. They believe that without an increase in vacancies, many deserving candidates will be deprived of appointment.
Focusing on this upcoming movement, the candidates have put forward five main demands:
- Increase in Vacancies: The total number of vacancies for the Second SLST must be increased from 35,726 to 1 lakh. This is their primary and foremost demand. They believe this step is crucial to provide employment opportunities to the vast number of unemployed youths in the state.
- Controversy over Experience Marks: New candidates have strongly opposed the decision to allocate an additional 10 marks to working teachers before the interview. According to them, this violates the principle of equal opportunity under Article 16 of the Indian Constitution. The cut-off must be determined based on the written examination marks, and the experience marks should not be linked with the interview process.
- Transparent Interview Process: To ensure transparency in the recruitment process, video and audio recording through CCTV cameras must be arranged during the interview. This is essential to prevent corruption and ensure the fair evaluation of deserving candidates.
- Sequence of Recruitment Process: The candidates demand that the recruitment process for the eleventh-twelfth standard be completed first, followed by the recruitment for the ninth-tenth standard. This is because many candidates have applied for both levels. If the ninth-tenth recruitment happens first, qualified candidates might join and then leave the post if they get an opportunity in the eleventh-twelfth level. This would result in the ninth-tenth post becoming vacant, and it would not be possible to recruit anew from the panel.
- Respect for the Supreme Court’s Verdict: The recent Supreme Court judgment canceling 26,000 jobs must be respected, and the verdict should not be disregarded in the recruitment process in any way.
The Government’s Role and Future Prospects
The protesters have already submitted their demands to the School Service Commission and Bikash Bhavan. They are hopeful that the government will accept their legitimate demands. With the 2026 assembly elections approaching, many believe that the government might be sympathetic to the candidates’ demands and could make important decisions like increasing the number of vacancies. However, learning from past experiences, the candidates are unwilling to trust any empty promises. Therefore, they are determined to make the Bikash Bhavan march on September 25th a success and secure their rights. It remains to be seen what steps the government will take and what the future holds for this movement.
