School Service Commission directs teacher appointments amid corruption allegations after nine-year delay

The School Service Commission (SSC) is facing allegations of corruption, including manipulation of exam answer sheets, discrepancies in merit lists, and irregularities in the recruitment process. Over the past two years, several former officials from the SSC and the education department have been arrested in connection with these allegations. In light of these issues, the SSC has introduced changes to its recruitment regulations as it begins the appointment process for high primary teachers.

The recruitment process for high primary teaching positions has been on hold for nearly nine years. The SSC has now initiated this process and is conducting counseling sessions for candidates. Previously, the SSC recommended candidates, while the Madhyamik Education Board managed the appointments. Under the new regulations, school managing committees are now responsible for directly appointing teachers, removing the Madhyamik Education Board's involvement.

The SSC has called approximately 450 candidates for counseling sessions. Reports indicate that over 14% of these candidates did not attend their scheduled sessions. This low attendance is notable given the long wait for job opportunities in the education sector, which has raised concerns among stakeholders.

Legal challenges have also affected the recruitment process. The High Court issued directives to facilitate the recruitment, but subsequent challenges in the Supreme Court temporarily halted progress. The Supreme Court ultimately declined to take on the case, allowing the SSC to proceed with the counseling and recruitment process as directed by the High Court. Counseling sessions are ongoing, and the SSC is working to ensure a smooth appointment process for candidates.