Kolkata: Out of 5.6 lakh examinees for the second state-level selection test (SLST), 44,879 were from other states, said state education minister Bratya Basu on Sunday. Merit lists for the second state-level selection test (SLST) will be published along with the scores that candidates secured in the written examinations.
The interview process will start in Nov.
Basu said, "Under the guidance and advice of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, the second SLST examinations were conducted by the West Bengal School Service Commission successfully, fearlessly, and transparently. WBSSC will upload the provisional answer key to get feedback from the candidates if they find any error."
"Opposition parties are free to move court if they want. But before creating further obstructions, kindly remember that the majority of the outstation examinees are from Bihar and UP," Basu added.
SSC chairperson Sidhhartha Majumdar said that the provisional answer key for the recruitment test for 9-10 will be published on Sept 16, and feedback will be taken for the next five days. The 11-12 provisional answer key will also be published soon.
A total of 2,29,897 (93%) candidates appeared for the assistant teachers' test for classes 11-12 out of 2.5 lakh candidates enrolled. Of them, 13,517 were from other states.
A total of 5.6 lakh candidates were enrolled for both exams scheduled on Sept 7 and 14.
Basu said, "The data reveals that there are no job opportunities where double-engine govts are running states. The central govt has failed to provide jobs to youngsters, and they came here where the state govt is running under the leadership of CM Mamata Banerjee, where recruitment exams are taking place regularly and transparently."
Several candidates said they moved out to other states, like Bengal, to secure a govt job, as job opportunities are limited in their respective states. Ankit Pande from UP, who appeared for the chemistry exam at Maharaja Manindra Chandra College, said, "This is the first time that I came to take the exam in Bengal as my target is to get a govt job." Rahul Chaudhary from Saharanpur, another candidate, said, "The scenario of job opportunities is the same everywhere, and I seek a govt job from wherever I can crack the test."
A lot of candidates, both newcomers and those sacked from the 2016 lot, expressed concerns about competition with such a huge number of examinees from neighbouring states. Jashmin Khatun, a new candidate who took the maths test, said, "I have prepared for the exam but am nervous as my teacher is also appearing for the same exam. Moreover, there are several candidates from other states, so the competition has become tougher.
" Sultana Parveen, who lost her job following the SC order and sat for the exam again, said, "I tried my best to prepare for the exam, but it's not easy this time. I have so many responsibilities now, and everything has changed because a 10-year gap is huge."
There were some teachers who wrote exams wearing black clothes as a sign of protest. A female candidate returned from the centre without appearing for the test as she was asked to remove her iron bangle, a sign of being married for Bengali women. SSC officials said there was no written instruction on this.