Primary Teachers Recruitment Scam in West Bengal

KOLKATA: IN another shocking scam, millions of primary teacher aspirants were deceived in West Bengal when it was exposed that most of the ‘successful’ candidates were recommended by ruling party leaders. In fact, candidates were recruited like party volunteers with all norms and decency abandoned.

The West Bengal Primary Education Board declared TET result on November 23, 2013 which showed only 1.07% of those who appeared in the examination have crossed the bar.  Though 35,000 posts were reported to be officially vacant, only a small proportion of those who sat in the examination were declared passed. Primarily it was 55 lakhs of people reported to have applied for TET examination. Suddenly it was officially announced that 45 lakhs of applications have been received. Finally it was further announced that just 17, 72,000 thousand people appeared in TET examination where only 18,792 people were qualified in TET. Now, it has come to light that the list was prepared by the ruling party leaders. The so-called ‘analysis’ was done in Trinamool Bhaban in Kolkata. The list contained the names of relatives, close aids of the TMC MLAs, leaders and hardcore TMC activists. TMC MLA of Kalna has been able to squeeze his eight family members in the list. TMC MLA of Kulpi has done almost a similar trick. In almost all districts, the relatives of district TMC leaders have found place in the list. It has been admitted by South 24 Parganas District Primary Council chief that the list has been scrutinised and recommended by TMC leaders Mukul Roy, Partha Chatterjee and Madan Mitra.

It has been widely reported that these recruitments have been done in exchange of huge bribes, paid to ruling party leaders.

The scam has angered students and youths and protest rallies were organised throughout the state. From north to south districts of the state many protest rallies and meetings demanded immediate resignation of the education minister. The DYFI has organised a militant protest in front of Primary Education Council.