The West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) launched a new website on Saturday to resolve critical login problems. Many candidates could not access their results for the State Level Selection Test (SLST) for assistant teachers. The WBSSC released results for classes 11-12 on Friday at 9:30 PM, causing the old portal to crash under heavy traffic.
These results are crucial for filling 12,514 assistant teacher vacancies across state-run and state-aided schools. This recruitment represents the first major selection process since the Supreme Court’s directive to rectify past irregularities.
Login Issues Affect Over 2 Lakh Candidates
The commission’s official portal experienced severe access issues due to an overwhelming number of users. Over 2.29 lakh candidates attempted to log in simultaneously. This high demand prevented most applicants from viewing their results, an official confirmed to PTI.
To mitigate the problem, the WBSSC introduced wbsschelpdesk.com as an alternative platform. The original website also remains active. An official urged candidates to attempt logging in at staggered intervals to avoid further system overload.
However, many candidates continued to report difficulties accessing their scores. Subrata Biswas, an aspirant, expressed ongoing failure despite numerous login attempts on both the original and new portals. Chinmoy Mondal, an examinee and an office bearer for the Deserving Teachers Rights Forum, stated he had not seen his results since Thursday night.
Recruitment Follows Supreme Court Ruling
This new teacher recruitment exam, conducted on September 14 , is the first selection process since the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling. On April 3 , the Supreme Court unequivocally cancelled the appointments of 25,753 teaching and non-teaching staff . The court declared the entire 2016 recruitment process “vitiated and tainted” due to widespread irregularities.
The current selection aims to establish a transparent and fair process. It replaces the appointments previously invalidated by the court. The 12,514 new vacancies offer a critical opportunity to fill essential teaching roles legitimately.
Next Steps for Qualified Candidates
Candidates who successfully cleared the SLST written test will advance to the interview stage. This interview is a crucial component, evaluating pedagogical skills, subject-specific knowledge, and effective communication abilities—all vital for teaching roles.
Following the interviews, the WBSSC will compile a final merit list. This comprehensive list will integrate combined scores from both the initial written examination and the interview stages. Candidates listed on the final merit list will then proceed to the document verification phase.
During document verification, successful candidates must present all original educational certificates, mark sheets, and valid identity proofs. Confirmation of final appointments is contingent upon the successful completion of this verification process.
Addressing Concerns of “Untainted” Candidates
The commission cannot immediately ascertain how many of the 25,753 teachers , whose previous appointments were cancelled, have qualified in this latest test. An official suggested a significant number of “untainted” candidates likely passed the exam.
“Untainted” candidates are defined as individuals whose involvement in any irregularities during the 2016 recruitment process was not proven. This recruitment drive prioritizes filling vacancies with qualified individuals through a clean process, addressing the historical issues.