SSC results delayed, more barriers ahead for teachers

Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, April 29, 2007
There is some alarming news for both would-be schoolteachers, and many others who are already teaching in schools. Added to this, is the bother of School Service Commission (SSC) exam results being delayed by a day.
Due to a technical snag in the SSC website, the results of the SSC exam may be delayed by a day. “We are trying our best to upload the results in our website — www.westbengalssc.com — by April 30, but due to a technical snag it may not be uploaded before May 1. However we suggest t students to keep checking our website from April 30,” said Ranajit Basu, chairman of SSC. “Since May 1 and May 2 are holidays, the hardcopy of the results will be put up on the notice board of all our regional offices on May 3,” he added. 24,571 teaching posts are up for grabs for those who have appeared for the SSC exams.
But, those who have appeared for this year’s exams will have to fulfil certain criteria to be eligible for the teaching posts. As it is, for at least 62 per cent of candidates who have appeared for the SSC, clearing the exam will not be enough. This is because though graduation is the minimum qualification to become a teacher in a government-aided school, there is a rider attached to it. That is, those who do not have a B Ed degree will have to get it within 5 years of joining work.
Now, candidates who clear the SSC exam have a new headache. From this year, the National Council of Teachers Education (NCTE) has declared that in order to study B Ed, candidates require at least 50 per cent in their graduation. Among the 3,60,000 students who have appeared for the SSC this year, 38 per cent have a B Ed degree. There are many amongst the others who appeared for the SSC who do not have the required marks in their graduation.
This new circular from NCTE will not only put the teachers recruited through SSC this year in a bind, but also teachers who have been recruited and are yet to complete their B Ed. When asked about this matter, Basu said: “Our job is to fill up teaching vacancies in schools and we really do not know what will happen to those who have scored below 50 per cent in their graduation and have not done their B Ed already.”
Students are also worried about this new development. There are only 8,000 B Ed seats across Bengal. “Even though I got through the SSC 3 years ago, due to limited seats I have not studied B Ed. This year my brother has taken the SSC and both of us do not have 50 per cent in our graduation. We really do not know what will happen,” said Sampa Patra, a teacher in a boys’ school near Kalyani.
According to Basu, teachers who do not have a B Ed degree 5 years after their appointment will not be entitled to any increment or promotion. They will never be able to become a teacher-in-charge or a headmaster. But there are no plans to make 50 per cent in graduation as the minimum eligibility criteria in the SSC from next year. This is because it is already difficult to get teachers for English and science subjects.
The government too is yet to take notice of this fact. “We need to do an in depth analysis of the circular first. This is not the right time to talk about it,” said an official of the school education department.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com