WBSSC to use unique security feature in question paper in teacher recruitment exam: Chairman

Kolkata, India: The West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) on Saturday said several unique security features have been embedded in the question papers to detect any malpractices during the School Level Selection Test (SLST) examinations scheduled for September 7 and 14, where an estimated 5.65 lakh candidates will appear.The SLST for recruitment of teachers will be conducted by WBSSC to fill up 35,726 teaching posts for classes 9-10 and 11-12.In line with the Supreme Court’s directive that no ‘tainted’ candidate should be allowed to sit for the test, the WBSSC has already published a list of 1,806 such teachers among around 26,000 teaching and non-teaching candidates whose jobs were annulled after the 2016 SLST, which was declared “tainted and vitiated” by the apex court in April.WBSSC Chairman Siddhartha Majumdar told reporters, “Unique identification security features will be embedded with every question paper. In case of any malpractice, it will be immediately detected through an alert in the monitoring room, where the concerned candidate will be identified and appropriate steps taken.”He declined to specify the nature of these features citing security concerns.On Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari’s allegation that a racket was offering question papers to SLST candidates in exchange for money, Majumdar said, “I cannot comment on claims by political parties.

What I can say with certainty is that all safety measures have been taken to prevent any illegalities, as per the Supreme Court order. Let the first phase be over, you will see.”Responding to questions on admit cards being downloaded by tainted candidates, Majumdar said, “We have taken necessary steps to enforce the SC order in totality, which includes this issue as well. The SC order and our compliance steps are already available on our website.”Clarifying on his earlier statement, Majumdar added, “All admit cards are termed provisional in any exam.”According to him, 3.19 lakh candidates will appear for the September 7 test for assistant teacher posts for classes 9-10 across 636 centres, while 2.46 lakh candidates will sit for the September 14 exam for recruitment of assistant teachers for classes 11-12 at 478 centres.As part of the heightened security measures, candidates must report at exam centres by 10 am, two hours before the exam begins.

Only pens — also available at the centres — will be allowed. No electronic devices, including mobile phones, will be permitted inside. Even SSC officials and venue supervisors must deposit mobiles in a cloakroom before entering.Admit cards will be scanned at the entrance with a barcode reader. The last entry into exam centres will be at 11:45 am, with the test beginning at 12 noon. Question papers will reach the centres by 10:30 am in sealed envelopes.Adhikari had alleged on Friday that question papers were being sold in North 24 Parganas for as much as Rs 50,000. However, Paschim Medinipur police later stated that a resident of Chandrakona was arrested for spreading false information on social media about the alleged sale of papers. PTI