Nine years after the last School Service Commission (SSC) test for secondary teachers, West Bengal on Sunday witnessed the long-awaited return of the examination under unprecedented scrutiny and tight security.
The recruitment drive, meant to fill more than 35,000 vacancies for Class 9 and 10 teachers, drew nearly 3.2 lakh candidates across 636 centres. The remaining candidates will appear for the second round on September 14.
The examination has returned only after the Supreme Court struck down the entire 2016 recruitment panel, ruling that large-scale corruption had marred the process. The court directed that only eligible aspirants be allowed to sit, barring “tainted or unqualified” individuals from participation. In line with this, the SSC published a list of 1,806 disqualified teachers, though critics allege the figure is a gross underestimation.
Priyabrata Roy, Deputy Commissioner of South Kolkata, said elaborate arrangements had been made to ensure smooth conduct. “Everything is placed rightly, and we have provided police officials at examination venues. We have also escorted the question papers, and everyone is on high alert. Everything appears good so far, and we have received no complaints. I wish all the best to all the candidates appearing for the SSC examination,” Roy maintained.
Also read: WBSSC issues notice to recruit 35,726 teachers as per SC order
For many aspirants, the return of the test revived memories of frustration and despair. One candidate, who had appeared in 2016 and is now sitting again in 2025, voiced both determination and uncertainty. “Preparation is full, but what will happen in the examination hall or after the exam, I am not sure. I am appearing for the exam, and I also appeared for the 2016 exam,” the candidate said.
Another candidate emphasised hopes for fairness this time. “Everybody is excited as the examination is happening after nine years. Everybody has prepared well, and we hope that the results will be declared properly and the panel will be good this time. Those who have prepared for the government job should be fairly rewarded,” the aspirant said.
The stakes are particularly high in West Bengal, where the SSC recruitment scandal has been one of the most contentious political issues of recent years. Allegations of bribery, manipulation of merit lists, and favouritism in teacher appointments shook public confidence in the system, eventually prompting the apex court to scrap the earlier panel.
With the new examination process taking shape under the court’s watch, both officials and candidates are aware that credibility rests on transparency. The sheer scale of Sunday’s turnout, however, reflected the enduring aspiration of thousands seeking stable employment in the state’s schools.
Follow us
