West Bengal’s Higher Secondary Teacher Recruitment process has brought significant good news for thousands of job aspirants. The School Service Commission (SSC) has confirmed that the existing 12,514 vacancies for Class XI-XII teacher posts are set to increase by another 700 to 800 seats. With this, the total number of HS teacher vacancies may reach around 13,200, offering more opportunities for candidates awaiting recruitment.
The results for the WB HS Teacher Recruitment examination were released on Friday. However, due to heavy traffic on the SSC website, many candidates faced difficulties accessing their results. To address this, SSC launched a separate result portal the very next day, ensuring that all candidates could view their result without disruption.
Why Are Vacancies Increasing?
According to SSC sources, the Bikash Bhavan department reviewed the teacher-student ratio across multiple higher secondary schools in the state. It was found that several schools currently lack sufficient teaching staff. To maintain quality education and balanced class strength, the decision to increase the number of vacancies has been taken.
An SSC official said, “The demand for increasing vacancies has been consistent. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure proper teacher-student ratio in higher secondary schools. Hence, additional posts are being sanctioned.”
Interview Shortlist: How Will Selection Work?
Once the final revised vacancy list arrives from Bikash Bhavan, SSC will prepare the interview shortlist. The selection ratio will remain:
For every 100 vacancies → 160 candidates will be called for interview (1:6 ratio).
The interview shortlist will be prepared based on the combined score of:
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Written Test Marks
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Educational Qualification Score (up to 10 marks)
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Teaching Experience Score (up to 10 marks)
According to Mahbub Mondal, a representative of the “Qualified Teachers’ Rights Forum,”
“In this recruitment, educational qualification and teaching experience are playing a decisive role. Someone may score well in written exam, but the final merit will depend on total marks from all three components.”
Answer Key and Error Corrections
SSC has also uploaded the scanned OMR answer sheets. Reports indicate 4 incorrect answers across different subjects. Candidates have been awarded full marks for these questions.
Where Is the Recruitment Process Stuck?
Despite the results and preparations, the recruitment process is still under the scrutiny of the Calcutta High Court. The Supreme Court has directed that the entire recruitment process must be completed by December 31 this year. If the deadline is missed, temporary teachers currently working may lose their jobs.
This has led to both anticipation and anxiety among teaching aspirants:
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On one hand, vacancy increase brings new hope.
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On the other, court proceedings may delay the final appointment.
Conclusion
The increase in vacancies is unquestionably a positive development for candidates preparing for WB HS teacher recruitment. However, all eyes are now on the court’s next hearing and the timeline of the recruitment completion. Whether appointments will be made within the Supreme Court’s deadline remains the big question.
