Kolkata, Sep 6 (NationPress) The West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) is set to administer the teacher recruitment examination for Class 9 and 10 this Sunday, ensuring stringent security and transparency protocols, as confirmed by an official on Saturday.

Over 319,000 candidates are expected to participate across more than 636 exam centres. The total number of applicants for the two phases of recruitment has surpassed 565,000, according to WBSSC Chairman Siddhartha Majumdar.

The School Level Selection Test (SLST) aims to fill 35,726 teaching positions for classes 9-10 and 11-12.

During a press briefing, Majumdar stated: "Any attempts to engage in unfair practices will be detected within 30 minutes. Each examination paper includes a unique security feature, and candidates' admit cards will undergo verification via barcode scanning. No one will be permitted to exit the examination hall until the completion of the exam."

Candidates have been instructed to arrive at their exam centres by 10 a.m.. Entry will close at 11:45 a.m., with the exam commencing at noon. Question papers will be delivered to the centres between 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., slated for distribution at 11:45 a.m.

Majumdar could not clarify whether any tainted or ineligible candidates would participate in the examination.

In a cautious note, he added: "Each competitive exam and admit card is provisional. An instance occurred where results were withheld after a Calcutta University examination due to a technical glitch. However, that is not the case here."

Following a Supreme Court directive, the School Service Commission released the names of 1,806 tainted candidates who secured jobs through a recruitment scam.

These individuals have been prohibited from participating in the new recruitment process. Nonetheless, allegations persist that thousands of additional ineligible candidates have obtained jobs via the scam, the names of whom remain undisclosed by the WBSSC.

Majumdar did not provide confirmation regarding the presence of such candidates in the upcoming examination.

In addition to thorough searches with metal detectors, special enclosures for female candidates have been created, with checks conducted by female staff members.

Candidates are prohibited from bringing phones, smartwatches, calculators, or any opaque items. Only transparent pens, folders, and water bottles are allowed, although the SSC will also supply pens at the centres. Additionally, venue supervisors and SSC officials will be restricted from carrying mobile phones past a certain point and cannot enter the exam hall with them, stated Majumdar.