West Bengal Teacher Recruitment 2025: WBSSC announces 35,726 teaching posts, including 17% OBC quota

The West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) on Friday issued a notification to fill 35,726 teaching positions in state-run secondary and higher secondary schools across West Bengal. The notice, now available on the WBSSC official website, includes provisions for the 17 per cent Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota under the state government’s reservation policy, alongside vacancies for general category candidates.

Of the total vacancies, 12,514 are for Class 11 and Class 12, while 23,212 are for Class 9 and Class 10. The WBSSC recruitment exam announcement comes after the Supreme Court stayed an earlier Calcutta High Court order that had temporarily halted the implementation of West Bengal's revised OBC list and reservation policy.

The recruitment follows years of delays caused by legal disputes over the 2016 State Level Selection Test (SLST), which had seen nearly 26,000 appointments annulled by the Supreme Court in April 2025 due to irregularities. The verdict left thousands of teachers without jobs, prompting continuous protests demanding reinstatement for untainted candidates and clarity on eligibility lists.

Protests over 2016 SLST verdict

Since the verdict, demonstrations have included sit-ins outside WBSSC headquarters , road blockades, and organized marches by teacher groups such as the Deserving Teachers’ Rights Forum and the Qualified Teachers’ Rights Platform. The agitation intensified after the death of teacher Subal Soren on August 5, attributed to stress from job loss. Protesters have consistently opposed fresh exams, calling for direct reinstatement and accountability from WBSSC officials and the state education minister.

With the latest notification, WBSSC is moving forward to fill vacancies while incorporating the OBC reservation. Authorities have emphasised that the recruitment process will follow Supreme Court directives, and untainted teachers from the 2016 batch may continue in service till December 31, 2025. Protesters and opposition leaders have urged swift implementation to ensure job security and clarity for eligible candidates.

(With inputs from PTI)