West Bengal School Service Commission to Conduct Fresh Teacher Selection Tests After 9 Years

Strategic Insights -

The West Bengal School Service Commission is set to conduct fresh selection tests for teachers at government-aided schools on September 7 and 14, following the Supreme Court's cancellation of 17,206 teaching positions due to irregularities in the 2016 recruitment process. The tests, which mark the first teacher recruitment exercise in nine years, were approved by the state government after the commission proposed them last week. The fresh tests are necessary to meet the Supreme Court's December 31 deadline for completing the recruitment process, which was set after the court allowed 15,403 teachers to continue working with salaries until December 31, pending the results of the fresh recruitment tests.

Key Takeaways:

  • The West Bengal School Service Commission will conduct fresh selection tests for teachers at government-aided schools on September 7 and 14, after a nine-year hiatus.
  • The tests were made necessary due to the Supreme Court's cancellation of 17,206 teaching positions due to irregularities in the 2016 recruitment process.
  • The fresh tests will be held on September 7 for secondary-level teachers and on September 14 for higher secondary-level recruitment exams.
  • The Supreme Court has set a December 31 deadline for completing the recruitment process.
  • The commission received 5.8 lakh applications after the submission window closed on Monday.
  • The September dates were finalized to meet the Supreme Court's December 31 deadline.
  • The new recruitment rules provide relaxation for in-service teachers, awarding them 10 marks each for prior teaching experience and lecture demonstrations in the 100-mark selection tests.
  • The commission has notified school and college heads about the likely test dates and requested campus availability for the examinations.
  • The Supreme Court allowed 15,403 teachers who were "not specifically found to be tainted" to continue working with salaries until December 31, pending the fresh recruitment tests.
  • Petitioner Lubana Parvin, 37, expressed concerns about the relaxation policy but will take the September tests despite her doubts.

Statistics:

  • 5.8 lakh: number of applications received by the SSC after the submission window closed on Monday
  • 17,206: number of teaching positions cancelled by the Supreme Court due to irregularities in the 2016 recruitment process
  • 15,403: number of teachers allowed by the Supreme Court to continue working with salaries until December 31, pending the fresh recruitment tests
  • 10: number of marks awarded to in-service teachers for prior teaching experience and lecture demonstrations in the 100-mark selection tests
  • December 31: deadline set by the Supreme Court for completing the recruitment process
  • 2 dates: September 7 and 14, the dates set for the fresh selection tests

Sources:

  • "West Bengal School Service Commission to conduct fresh teacher selection tests after 9 years" by ABP Private Limited, dated September 2025, distributed by Contify.com