The 2025 West Bengal SSC teacher recruitment exam is taken by more than 3 lakh applicants

The first teacher recruitment exam to be held in the state since the Supreme Court eliminated over 26,000 teaching and non-teaching positions in April, the West Bengal School Service Commission’s (WBSSC) School Level Selection Test (SLST) had almost 3.19 lakh hopefuls show up on Sunday.

The apex court had termed the 2016 recruitment process “tainted and vitiated”, prompting a fresh round of examinations.

The exam was administered at 636 locations throughout the state for assistant teaching positions in classes 9 and 10. It started at noon and ended at 1:30 pm. Candidates with special needs were given an extra 20 minutes.

TIGHT CHECKS AND SECURITY

To stop malpractice, a three-tiered security system was implemented.

For comprehensive checks, which included barcode scanning of admission cards, naka checking outside locations, and prohibitions on bringing anything other than pens given at centers, candidates had to report two hours prior to the test.

Even supervisors and exam officials were rigorously prohibited from using cell phones or other electronic devices.

Additionally, each question paper now has a unique security identity thanks to the WBSSC. For the first time, candidates were allowed to carry home their question papers and carbon copies of their OMR sheets, a move described as a step towards transparency.

Candidates discuss their own stories.

While several agreed they could have done better with more preparation, many first-time examinees thought the paper to be simple.

A few educators who were laid off after the Supreme Court’s decision also took the test. Before going into the hall, a 55-year-old applicant broke down and asked, “Do you believe it’s feasible to prepare like a young kid after seven years of teaching? I am not prepared since I cannot handle this anguish on a mental level.

POLITICAL ROW OVER OTHER STATE CANDIDATES

Additionally, the test attracted applicants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, igniting political controversy. Speaking out against the BJP, Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh claimed that candidates from “double-engine governments” had migrated to Bengal because their states’ recruiting efforts had stagnated.

Nobody has claimed that Bengal exams are exclusive to Bengalis. They were not insulted or mistreated. He wrote on X, “No one stopped them.”

Sajal Ghosh of the BJP retorted that West Bengali candidates take tests in other states as well. Shatarup Ghosh, the head of the CPI(M), claimed that the state administration would now try to “cut money” out of candidates from outlying areas.

Exams will resume on September 14th.

Another 2.46 lakh applicants will take the September 14 recruitment exam for assistant teachers of classes 11 and 12 at 478 locations, according to WBSSC chairperson Siddhartha Majumdar.

Additionally, 1,806 teachers who were deemed “tainted” by the commission are not permitted to participate in the new procedure.

“The entire administration is always with you to ensure security, transparency, and all possible facilities at 636 venues so that you deliver your best,” said State Education Minister Bratya Basu, assuring candidates of assistance.

Kolkata Metro operated early services on the Blue and Green lines to make travel easier.