West Bengal's School Education Minister Deepak Barman on Thursday, 1 October assured that the long-stalled primary school teacher recruitment process in the state would be wrapped up shortly, and that a fresh round of hiring would follow immediately after. The remarks were made at a press conference held at Bikash Bhaban in Kolkata.

Where the Recruitment Process Stands

The last Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for primary school teachers was conducted in 2022, yet the recruitment process tied to that exam remains incomplete more than three years later. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) government published the recruitment notification for 2022 TET qualified candidates on 25 September 2025 — reportedly under sustained pressure from candidate movements — but even after a year, the actual hiring process had not commenced.

Interviews eventually began on 31 December 2025, with district-wise rounds conducted in phases. The exercise aimed to recruit 13,421 candidates. The first four rounds proceeded without major disruption.

How the Assembly Elections Derailed the Process

On 27 February, the West Bengal Board of Primary Education (WBBPE) issued a fresh notification scheduling interviews for candidates from Nadia, Purulia, Bankura, Alipurduar, South Dinajpur, Malda, West Burdwan and Birbhum districts across phases five through ten. Interviews for Nadia district concluded in the fifth phase on 19 March.

However, the sixth-phase interviews for Purulia district, which began on 23 March, ran headlong into the announcement of the Assembly election schedule. Questions arose about the legality of conducting government interviews during the model code period. The Election Commission subsequently wrote to the School Education Department on 27 March seeking details of the interview process. According to the board, the letter arrived on 30 March and was responded to the same day, with an explanation that the process had continued after the election announcement. Nevertheless, the WBBPE suspended interviews on 1 April.

Assembly elections were held thereafter, a new government was formed, yet the interviews have not resumed — triggering a fresh round of protests and public debate over the fate of tens of thousands of waiting candidates.

What the Minister Said

Addressing the delay directly, Minister Deepak Barman said the ongoing recruitment drive would be completed 'quickly' and the government would then move to the next hiring cycle. He added that the TET would henceforth be held annually. 'Once this recruitment is completed, the TET will be held again based on the vacancies that are created. I have said many times, and I am saying again, TET will be held every year like Durga Puja, Lakshmi Puja and Saraswati Puja,' Barman said.

Mid-Day Meal Disruptions Also Flagged

The Minister also addressed a separate concern around mid-day meals. Reports had emerged days earlier that the scheme had been suspended at a school in the Garia area on the outskirts of Kolkata, allegedly due to a shortage of funds. The district administration subsequently intervened and restored the meals. However, several schools across the state reportedly continue to face problems related to the scheme.

Barman emphasised that mid-day meals must not be stopped in any school, saying the state government gives 'great importance' to the PM Poshan scheme and that funds have been allocated. Multiple schools across West Bengal are still said to be facing operational issues with the programme, according to reports.

With the minister's assurance now on record, all eyes will be on whether the WBBPE resumes and concludes the stalled interview rounds within the timeframe the government has implicitly committed to.