Schools across West Bengal are grappling with an acute crisis following the Supreme Court’s verdict on Thursday, which resulted in the termination of nearly 26,000 teachers and non-teaching staff from state-aided schools due to a recruitment scam. The sudden mass dismissal has left school authorities struggling to address the severe shortage of teachers.
Expressing concern, educators and school administrators have warned that the removal of such a large number of teachers in one go could cause an unprecedented crisis in Bengal’s education system. “Families across rural Bengal rely heavily on government-aided schools for their children's education. This abrupt termination of teachers will significantly impact the education system at the secondary and higher secondary levels,” said a teacher.
Murshidabad, a district along the India-Bangladesh border with a high minority population, is among the worst affected regions. More than 3,000 teachers in this district lost their jobs following the Supreme Court’s verdict, which invalidated the appointments of 25,752 teachers recruited under the 2016 panel.
At Arjunpur High School, which has 9,000 students, 36 out of 67 teachers were dismissed, leaving only 31 educators to manage the institution. The school’s managing committee president, Habib Parwez, admitted that under these circumstances, ensuring quality education for thousands of students has become almost impossible.
“We have convened an emergency meeting to discuss ways to cope with the crisis,” he said.
Similarly, Bhagwangola High School for Girls in the same district is facing a severe crisis after 21 of its 62 teachers were dismissed.
The news, which broke on Thursday morning, left the entire school in shock. The acting headmistress expressed grave concerns. “Exams are scheduled to start soon, but under these conditions, I am unsure how they can be conducted. Our school accommodates about four thousand students, and I am extremely worried about their future,” she stated.
The dismissed teachers, devastated by the verdict, claim they had obtained their jobs honestly and were not involved in any wrongdoing or corruption. Many broke down in tears, protesting their sudden unemployment. “It is unjust to punish us despite our innocence,” lamented one of the affected teachers.
“If such a large number of teachers are removed at once, how will our children’s education continue?” asked a concerned parent.
Both parents and faculty members emphasised that the dismissal of so many teachers would severely disrupt education quality and normal school operations. Without an immediate resolution, sustaining school activities would become nearly impossible, admitted a teacher.
Follow us
