Kolkata, 11 June (H.S.) : West Bengal’s newly appointed School Education Minister Dipak Barman on Thursday said that restoring students’ confidence in the state’s education system would be one of the government’s foremost priorities. However, he refrained from commenting on the ongoing School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment controversy, stating that he needed time to fully understand the issue before making any observations.

After assuming charge of the School Education Department, the BJP legislator from Falakata said several cases related to SSC recruitment are currently pending before the courts, making it inappropriate to offer immediate comments on the matter.

“There are numerous cases related to SSC recruitment. I would not like to comment without understanding the entire issue. Please allow me some time to study the situation. It will take time, and things will not change overnight,” Barman told reporters.

The minister’s remarks come at a time when uncertainty continues over the appointment of eligible candidates, many of whom have reportedly reappeared for examinations and re-established their credentials. However, questions remain regarding when they will be able to receive appointment letters and join service.

The situation has become more complex following the change of government in the state. After the BJP government took office on May 9, several office-bearers appointed by the previous administration were removed from their positions. As a result, key posts, including the Chairperson of the School Service Commission and the President of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, are currently vacant.

The vacancies have slowed down administrative and recruitment-related processes. To maintain functioning, the government has assigned additional responsibilities to District Inspectors of Schools and put interim arrangements in place at the SSC headquarters. Barman indicated that resolving these institutional challenges would require time.

Another issue creating concern among aspirants is the future of Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation policies. The new government has indicated its intention to revoke OBC regulations introduced after 2010, a move that could potentially affect the eligibility status of a number of candidates.

Addressing broader concerns in the education sector, the minister acknowledged that many government and government-aided schools across the state are facing serious challenges. While some institutions are grappling with teacher shortages, others are witnessing declining student enrolment despite having adequate teaching staff.

“We will work to bring everyone under one umbrella. The government is committed to restoring public faith in the school education system and ensuring that confidence in educational institutions is rebuilt,” he said.

Barman’s comments underline the challenges facing the state’s education sector, which continues to deal with recruitment disputes, administrative vacancies and concerns over student participation. The government now faces the task of restoring stability and public trust in the education system while addressing long-pending structural issues.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh