SSC SLST Recruitment: The meeting between SLST job aspirants and the chairman at the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) office has ended without a resolution. Despite discussions on several demands regarding the new teacher recruitment, no positive response was received from the commission. This outcome has led to intense frustration and anger among the fresher candidates, pushing the state’s teacher recruitment process into a new crisis.
Key Issues of the Meeting and the Commission’s Rigid Stance
The new SLST job aspirants met with the SSC Chairman and Secretary to discuss their primary demands. These included:
- Increase in Vacancies: A demand was made to include at least one lakh vacancies in the notification, considering the vast number of vacant posts in the state. However, the commission outright rejected this demand.
- Extra Marks for Experience: The aspirants demanded the removal of the 10 marks allocated for experienced candidates, arguing that it is discriminatory towards freshers. An alternative proposal to add these marks after the interview was also ignored. The commission maintained that the entire process would adhere to the official gazette and rules.
The Commission’s Stern Message to Freshers
The commission’s attitude during the meeting was unexpectedly harsh. The chairman clearly stated that they are more inclined to recruit experienced teachers (such as those currently working in KVS or NVS). According to him, experienced teachers can better improve the quality of education in schools. Questioning the competence of freshers, he said, “Why should we hire freshers? Those with experience can teach better.”
This statement has created deep anxiety about the future of fresher candidates. They argue that if the commission prioritizes experience, there will be no opportunities left for newcomers.
Warning Against Protests and Job Uncertainty
It is alleged that when the candidates became more vocal with their demands, the commission issued an indirect warning. They were told that if the protests continue, recruitment would be conducted for only 14,000 vacancies, a number far below the aspirants’ expectations. This could result in even qualified candidates being deprived of jobs.
After the meeting, one candidate stated, “After today’s discussion, it is clear that we won’t get jobs by sitting at home. We need to unite and launch a larger movement.”
This situation has thrown the future of thousands of educated unemployed youths in the state into deep uncertainty. With a scarcity of jobs on one hand and the commission’s rigid stance on the other, the state’s teacher recruitment process is at a critical juncture. It remains to be seen what path the job seekers will take next and whether the government or the commission will change their stance.
