Teachers to meet Bengal education officials

Kolkata

A group of six protesting teachers, who lost their jobs after a recent Supreme Court decision, will meet West Bengal education officials on Monday to discuss the issue, a protester said. State Education Minister Bratya Basu is unlikely to attend, officials confirmed.

These teachers are part of the Deserving Teachers’ Rights Forum and have been holding a sit-in near Bikash Bhavan, the education department’s headquarters in Salt Lake. They want to be reinstated and oppose the fresh recruitment exam ordered by the court. Senior education officials are scheduled to meet them around 1 pm.

Before the meeting, one protester said, We want the government to reinstate deserving teachers and avoid the new exam. We also want clarity on the exam notification expected by May 31. Another said they are exploring all legal options to keep their jobs.

On Sunday, Basu urged the teachers to trust the government, saying legal steps are underway. He assured that untainted teachers affected by recruitment flaws in 2016 will keep their salaries and jobs until the new recruitment finishes by December 31. He also warned against falling for political influences.

Some teachers have already returned to work and are cooperating with the government, Basu added. Meanwhile, BJP MP and former judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay criticized the state government and School Service Commission for the current situation.

Following a court order, protesters moved their sit-in to Central Park, Salt Lake, to prevent traffic disruption. The Supreme Court canceled the appointments of 25,753 school staff, calling the recruitment tainted. Despite violent clashes with police on May 15 near Bikash Bhavan, the protests continue.