No exemption for teachers from HS script checking this year: WB Council

The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education has directed the government and aided schools that teachers will not be granted exemption from evaluating higher secondary answer scripts this year due to a shortage of teaching staff.

In a communication sent to school heads, the council said the limited number of teachers available at the secondary and higher secondary levels has made it necessary to involve all eligible staff in the answer script evaluation process.

“You are aware of the fact that, in our state, at the secondary and higher secondary levels, the strength of teachers is critically low compared to the number of students. Therefore, the council can’t exempt any teacher from script evaluation duty,” the council said in a communication to the headmasters on March 9.

Officials said that requests from schools seeking exemption for teachers from evaluation duties are generally unlikely to be approved this year.

The higher secondary examinations conducted under the semester system concluded on Feb 27. Students who did not clear the third-semester examination held in September also appeared for supplementary tests along with the fourth-semester exams between Feb 12 and Feb 27.

In addition, candidates who failed the Higher Secondary examination last year under the earlier annual system were allowed to take the tests during the same period.

According to a council official, around 7.5 lakh students appeared for the examinations this year, creating a large volume of answer scripts that need to be assessed.

To address the shortage of teachers earlier, the council had also deployed primary school teachers as invigilators during the Class 12 board examinations.

Meanwhile, the West Bengal Central School Service Commission has been directed to complete the recruitment of 12,514 teachers for the higher secondary level by Aug 31 in line with a Supreme Court order.