Kolkata, Sep 14 (NationPress) The second round of the State Level Selection Test (SLST), organized by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC), is set to take place today.

The examination for recruiting teachers for Classes 11 and 12 (Higher Secondary) is scheduled to commence at noon and will conclude at 1:30 p.m. Notably, candidates with disabilities will receive an additional 30 minutes for the test.

There are 12,514 vacancies available for Classes 11 and 12, with approximately 246,000 candidates expected to participate in this second round. A total of 478 examination centres have been established.

WBSSC has advised all candidates to arrive at their respective centres by 10 a.m.. They will distribute the question papers and answer sheets at 11:45 a.m.. It’s important to note that no electronic devices will be permitted inside the exam centres.

The initial round of the SLST was conducted smoothly on September 7, with over 319,000 candidates taking part.

State Education Minister Bratya Basu reassured examinees, stating, "We have updated the WBSSC as per the directives from the Chief Minister. I assure all candidates that the administration is implementing robust measures to ensure the exam proceeds without any errors.

“Approach the exam with a calm mindset. The WBSSC has prepared diligently, alongside the Chief Minister’s office, for a seamless examination process. I hope everything goes smoothly,” he remarked.

As per WBSSC records, the SLST aims to fill 35,726 teaching positions across Classes 9-10 and 11-12, consisting of 23,212 posts for Classes 9 and 10, and 12,514 positions for Classes 11 and 12. The cumulative number of applicants for both recruitment phases has surpassed 565,000.

The current examination occurs amidst a significant teacher recruitment scam that has shaken West Bengal's political landscape in recent years. Several individuals, including former State Education Minister Partha Chatterjee and Trinamool MLA Jiban Krishna Saha, along with various state education officials, have been detained by central investigative agencies for engaging in extensive corruption to facilitate job placements in exchange for financial incentives and manipulation of OMR sheets.

The candidates involved had participated in the 2016 SLST exam, the prior occasion when the WBSSC conducted a recruitment examination for teaching posts in Classes 9-10 and 11-12.

On April 3, the Supreme Court annulled the appointments of approximately 26,000 teachers and non-teaching staff who were recruited through the 2016 selection process.

The new exams are being conducted under a Supreme Court mandate, which also prohibits previous panel (2016) candidates deemed tainted and ineligible from participating in the new examination.

On August 30, the WBSSC released a list of 1,806 tainted candidates who obtained teaching positions through the recruitment scandal, as per the Supreme Court order.