Govt forms panel to look into demands of aspiring teachers

The West Bengal government on Friday formed a committee to look into the grievances of aspiring school teachers who were on relay hunger strike for 23 days demanding recruitment to vacant posts in state-run institutes.

Education Minister Partha Chatterjee met representatives of the 200 aspiring school teachers who are on an indefinite dharna in the city since February 28.

Chatterjee later told reporters that a five-member committee comprising the School Service Commission (SSC) chairman and school education department officials have been formed to look into the demands of the candidates.

The agitators will submit their demands to the panel in the next two days after which it will examine the issues and come out with a formula, the minister said.

Chatterjee said he had met the agitating aspiring teachers four times in the past.

The agitators were claiming that a large number of teachers' posts were lying vacant but the authorities were not calling them for interview though they have the requisite qualifications.

Maintaining that merit will be given top most priority to the SSC candidates, Chatterjee said, "The SSC strictly adheres to the stipulated guidelines."
Chatterjee said while the government would adopt a humane approach towards the agitators, "they should not be used by any political group to suit its own interest. Nor should any political group give false promises to undeserving candidates."