May 29, 2025 6:07 pm
Full News

26,000 Teachers Lose Jobs in West Bengal—Who Will Teach the Students?

The abrupt cancellation of nearly 26,000 teaching and non-teaching staff jobs has plunged West Bengal’s school education system into crisis.

One such affected institution is the Birinchibari Surendranath Girls’ School in the remote Sunderbans area of Jharakhala. The school, which runs up to 12th grade, has 498 students.

Last week, when India’s Supreme Court ordered the termination of nearly 26,000 school teachers and staff hired in 2016, the school’s headmistress Arusima Mitra was devastated.

She said, “Perhaps I should have first thought of my colleagues who lost their jobs. But believe me, the first thought that struck me was—what will happen to my students? Who will teach them now?”

No Teachers Left—Who Will Teach the Children?

Even before the ruling, the school had only nine teachers for nearly 500 students. Four of them have now lost their jobs due to the Supreme Court verdict.

“We were already struggling with just nine teachers. Everyone was overburdened. I personally took classes regularly,” said Headmistress Mitra. “Now, running the school has become extremely difficult.”

This situation is echoed across thousands of schools in West Bengal. In many cases, half or more of the staff are gone. Some schools had only one teacher—who also lost their job. Retired teachers have stepped in at some places. Many individuals on social media have offered to teach for free.

In schools lacking support staff, even the head teachers are ringing the school bells themselves. “We have no science or geography teachers. Who will prepare the students for their higher secondary exams next year? What will happen to their future?” asked Mitra.

Both ‘Qualified’ and ‘Unqualified’ Teachers Were Fired

The Supreme Court order did not differentiate between roughly 7,000 allegedly corrupt hires and those who earned their positions on merit. As a result, both categories lost their jobs.

Many were accused of getting jobs by bribery, including some who submitted blank answer sheets in recruitment exams. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has probed the matter. Former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee and several senior officials from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) have been arrested. However, in the latest ruling, the Supreme Court didn’t separate the qualified from the unqualified.

Teachers have criticized the government, asking why the qualified and unqualified were not categorized properly despite earlier commitments and existing CBI reports identifying those who paid bribes.

“Even the Supreme Court had earlier said it would define the criteria for distinguishing between qualified and unqualified candidates,” said Mehbub Mondal, a teacher from Dhosha Chandaneswar High School in South 24 Parganas and convenor of the Qualified Teachers’ Rights Forum.

He added, “Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee recently said she would try to reinstate the qualified teachers, but she also hinted at rehabilitating the unqualified ones—which we strongly oppose.”

Teachers: Victims of Political Game

Many teachers believe they are victims of political conspiracies. Mehbub Mondal said, “While we—the qualified teachers—were terminated, the same Supreme Court rejected a CBI probe into the government’s creation of excess job positions.”

This implies that the state cabinet’s alleged backdoor plan to rehire corrupt hires could still proceed, shielding them from legal scrutiny.

“We ordinary people have been scapegoated for political gain ahead of the next state elections,” said Mondal. He blamed institutional failure and pointed fingers at the state government.

Brutality Against Teachers

While the controversy over the job terminations rages, police brutality against protesting teachers has added fuel to the fire. A video showing a police officer kicking a teacher during a protest in Kolkata sparked public outrage.

The Kolkata Police Commissioner and Chief Secretary had to hold a press conference. Commissioner Manoj Verma said only “mild force

Related News
Russia Offers to Mediate in India-Pakistan Tensions
Tensions Rise Between Trump, Elon Musk, and MAGA Supporters Over Immigration Policies
India Keeps Close Watch on US-China Trade War, Strengthens Indo-US Security Cooperation
What Will Trump’s Inauguration Look Like!
James Webb Gave A New Understanding Of The Magnetic Effect Of Star Formation
Is ‘minus two’ becoming a reality in Bangladesh?
Related Posts
May 29 is “United Nations Peacekeepers Day
The Independence
Despite Boycott Calls, Bangladesh’s Interim Government Continues Imports from India
Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser Meets U.S. Delegation Amid Rift with Military Over Rohingya Corridor Proposal
Lashkar-e-Taiba Commander Claims Role in 2024 Coup That Toppled Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh
Bangladesh-Myanmar Trade Halted at Teknaf as Arakan Army Blocks Shipments
More News

Macron Calls for ‘Tough Measures’ to Force Russia into Ceasefire

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for “tough measures” to force Russia into a ceasefire. His call came after a devastating Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy. Macron emphasized increasing pressure on Russia to bring an end to the war. At least 34 people were killed in the Russian assault on the […]

Abu Mohammed al-Golani: From Shadowy al Qaeda Leader to De Facto Ruler in Rebel-Held Syria

BEIRUT, 05/12/2024 – Once a reclusive figure tied to al Qaeda, Abu Mohammed al-Golani has transformed into Syria’s most prominent insurgent leader, steering Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and positioning himself as the de facto ruler of northwestern Syria. Golani, who severed ties with al Qaeda in 2016 and rebranded his group, has been thrust into […]

People With ADHD Face Higher Driving Risks — But There Are Ways To Stay Safe

The Voice News: Research shows that people with ADHD are more likely to get traffic tickets and be involved in car accidents. But experts say this shouldn’t discourage anyone — especially those who understand and manage their condition well. Why Driving Can Be Riskier for People With ADHD Driving requires focus, quick decision-making, and awareness […]

The United States Takes Seven Afghan Military Helicopters

In 2021, as Taliban fighters advanced toward the capital, Kabul, then-Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country. At that time, several military helicopters and fighter jets were hastily taken to neighboring Uzbekistan. Among them, Uzbekistan has handed over seven Black Hawk helicopters to the United States. This information was disclosed at a recent event at […]

“ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice resigns.”

as confirmed by the governing body of world cricket today. Allardice joined the ICC as General Manager in 2012, after leaving his role as Operations Manager at Cricket Australia (CA). In November 2021, he was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer following an eight-month stint as Acting CEO after the dismissal of Manu Sawhney. Explaining […]

Trump Cuts Vaccine Aid to Developing Countries

The Trump administration is preparing to halt funding for Gavi, the global organization that provides vaccine aid to developing countries, according to a report by The New York Times published on Wednesday. On Monday night, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the government agency responsible for international aid, submitted a 281-page document to […]

Israeli Forces Kill 32 Palestinians in a Day, Target Kamal Adwan Hospital Amid Escalating Violence

The relentless violence in Gaza continues as Israeli military strikes have killed at least 32 Palestinians and injured 54 others in the past 24 hours, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. The attacks, targeting multiple locations across the besieged territory, underscore the escalating humanitarian crisis and the dire conditions faced by millions of residents […]

Russia will attack on Western countries?

The Ukraine war is becoming increasingly complex by progressing time. Although the war is primarily between Ukraine and Russia, various other countries have become indirectly involved. In this situation, Russian President Vladimir Putin perceives the characteristics of a “global” war within the Ukraine conflict. He has issued a warning, stating that he would not hesitate […]

Nation Mourns as Trump Speculates on DEI in DC Plane Crash Claiming 67 Lives

In the shadow of a somber day in Washington DC, where the sky was marred by the tragedy of a plane crash claiming 67 lives, President Donald Trump took the stage to address not only the nation’s grief but also its governance and policy directions. The incident, a stark reminder of vulnerability even in the […]

Canon and Imagica Group Unveil VR Footage Simulating Space Travel, Captured from the Stratosphere

Canon Inc., in collaboration with Imagica Group Inc., a prominent video production company, has released stunning VR footage captured from the stratosphere using advanced camera technology. The footage was created using three high-performance cameras mounted on a balloon that ascended to an altitude of approximately 25,000 meters. Designed to simulate the experience of space travel, […]