Bengal Education minister calls upon agitating teachers to have faith in state govt

PTI, Kolkata, May 25, 2025: On Sunday, West Bengal's Education Minister, Bratya Basu, appealed to protesting teachers to place their trust in the state government, assuring that all necessary measures are being taken to resolve the crisis caused by the Supreme Court’s recent ruling invalidating their jobs. Addressing the media on the sidelines of an event, Basu stated that a senior Education department official would meet with the agitating teachers, who have been protesting in front of the Education department headquarters, Bikash Bhavan, for several days.

The meeting, scheduled for Monday, is part of the government's ongoing efforts to understand the teachers' demands and explore all available legal avenues to address the issue. "We are committed to ensuring that the teachers who have been affected by the Supreme Court order, particularly those who are ‘untainted’ in their qualifications, will be able to continue their work and receive their salaries until the recruitment process for new candidates is completed by December 31," Basu affirmed.

Basu also addressed the ongoing protests led by the ‘Deserving Teachers Rights Forum,’ which has been demanding an audience with state authorities. The Minister clarified that he had previously met with the representatives of the protesting group on multiple occasions and provided them with legal support. "A senior official will engage with them directly on Monday to discuss their concerns. We have already had constructive discussions on several occasions, and the government is committed to providing legal assistance," Basu explained.

While some teachers have stopped participating in the protests and are looking to the state government for further action, others are still holding sit-ins. Both groups have reported back to their respective workplaces, and Basu assured that the government was sympathetic to all those affected. He further urged the teachers to trust in the state’s efforts and warned against being influenced by political forces seeking to politicize the issue.

Addressing concerns from "untainted" teachers who have refused to sit for a new recruitment test, Basu reiterated the government's position on the Supreme Court's directive. "We must abide by the Supreme Court’s ruling, and the School Service Commission is bound by it. However, we are exploring all possible options to best accommodate the interests of the teachers," he said.

Basu's comments followed a meeting earlier in the day between the protesting teachers and BJP MP Abhijit Gangopadhyay, a former justice of the Calcutta High Court. Gangopadhyay, who met with members of the forum, expressed concern over the irregularities in the recruitment process that had led to the current situation. He criticized the state government and the School Service Commission for what he described as gross mismanagement, leaving many deserving teachers uncertain about their future despite no fault of their own.

The ongoing issue highlights the broader challenges facing West Bengal's education sector, as the state government seeks to address the legal and procedural shortcomings while balancing the demands of both affected teachers and political critics.