Kolkata: Teachers from the 2016 panel across state schools conducted their final classes before the start of the third summative or annual tests from Monday, following the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education's (WBBSE) order. Teachers and staff from the 2016 panel lost their jobs following the Supreme Court order passed on April 3.
Moumie Paul from a school in Alipurduar, who took her last class, posted on her social media page a photo along with her class 6 students. She said, "I was the class teacher of this class, and I attended my last class with my beloved students. I was shattered as I didn't know whether I can return to this classroom again. I took the last class for class 6 students last week, and on Friday, the students of class 9came to me with a request to go to their class with them. I did so because they have a strong belief that their madam will return to the class again."
Sangram Majumdar, a teacher at Kanchrapara Khudiram Bose Institute, went through a similar experience on Saturday, when his students attended their last class with their beloved maths teacher with tears. Explaining the experience of his last class, his voice choked with tears, Majumdar said, "I was the only mathematics teacher at this school, and on Saturday, I had classes from 5-9 as third-semester exams are starting from Monday. Many of the students started crying when I entered the class. I tried to look strong in front of them as if nothing has happened, but honestly, I had to control my emotions in front of them, and I hid my tears."
He set questions for each class for the exam and was assigned the invigilation duty, but is spending almost sleepless nights as he failed to clear the cut-off marks for appearing for the interview.
"The interview list for the secondary level is yet to be published, which is the only ray of hope for me. But I don't know how I will run my family if I fail to meet the cut-off. I never did anything wrong with anyone, so why I am being punished?"
Rajat Haldar, a physical science teacher in the Kultali area, said, "In my school, exams have already started. I set questions and attend invigilation duties as well. But I am myself appearing for a test to prove myself to secure a job. My students were very upset on the last day of the class, and many of them questioned whether they would see me again. Innocent teachers and students are all suffering only because of the failure of a system."
Chayan Haldar, a teacher at Kastekumari High School, said three teachers at his school are from the 2016 panel who lost their jobs. But these teachers are extremely diligent about their work, continuing their duties under immense pressure, knowing they might not return to the classrooms again.