The West Bengal Board of Primary Education has officially commenced the crucial interview phase for recruiting teachers to fill a substantial 13,421 vacancies in state-run primary schools. This significant recruitment drive, which began on Tuesday, marks the first such large-scale hiring initiative since the last one was conducted in 2022.
Transparent and Streamlined Interview Process
To ensure a fair and transparent selection, the board has implemented a robust procedure. The interviews started with candidates for the English-medium category, which comprises 180 vacancies. In a streamlined approach, document verification and the personal interview are being conducted simultaneously. The entire process is being video-recorded to maintain accountability and eliminate discrepancies. For efficiency, the board set up five tables for document verification and five separate tables for conducting the interviews.
On the inaugural day, a total of 135 candidates were called to appear before the selection panel. The recruitment drive has attracted a diverse pool of applicants, including many who had completed their Diploma in Elementary Education (DElEd) before 2017 and had also cleared the Teachers' Eligibility Test (TET) but were not called for interviews in the previous recruitment cycle.
Candidates Return from Other States for Opportunity
A notable trend observed is the return of several candidates who had moved to other states for teaching jobs after a long wait. One such candidate, Achintya Mallik from Thakurnagar, shared his story. He graduated in 2019 and cleared both TETs conducted by the SSC and the primary board. After waiting for three years post clearing TET in 2022, he moved to Himachal Pradesh, where he currently teaches at an English-medium school. "I want to return to my state," Mallik stated, highlighting the pull of serving in his home state.
The long gap between the two recruitment drives has intensified competition, a point underscored by Bijon Majhi, who accompanied his wife, Sagarika Majhi, from Raghunathpur in Purulia. He expressed that the extended interval has significantly increased the number of contenders, making the limited number of seats a major concern for all applicants.
High Stakes and Future Implications
This recruitment process is critical for addressing the teacher shortage in West Bengal's primary education sector. The board's methodical approach, with its emphasis on video recording and simultaneous verification, aims to set a benchmark for transparency in government hiring. The outcome will not only shape the careers of thousands of candidates but also impact the quality of primary education delivered to children across the state. As the interviews progress over the coming days, aspiring teachers hope for a fair chance to secure a position in their home state's educational framework.
