Patna, Aug 20: The protest by candidates seeking changes in the Bihar Public Service Commission’s Teacher Recruitment Examination (BPSC TRE-4) entered its third day on Thursday, prompting Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary to convene a high-level meeting with senior officials to discuss their demands.
Candidates camping at Gardanibagh in Patna have been pressing for changes in the examination process, including conducting the recruitment test in a single stage and scrapping negative marking.
In view of the growing agitation, Choudhary has called a meeting with senior officials of the Education Department and top BPSC representatives at Lok Sevak Awas at noon.
Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Education Department and senior officials of the commission are expected to attend the meeting.
A key issue likely to come up for discussion is a possible increase in the number of vacancies under TRE-4, amid demands from candidates and the government’s stated focus on employment generation.
Sources indicated that “a major decision can be taken to increase the number of vacant posts in TRE-4” during the meeting.
The protesters, however, have maintained that merely increasing vacancies would not address their concerns. They want the recruitment examination to be conducted in a single stage rather than through multiple stages.
“The examination process should be completed in a single stage,” candidates said.
They are also demanding complete removal of negative marking from the TRE-4 examination.
“Negative marking should be completely removed from the TRE-4 exam,” they said.
The candidates have warned that their agitation will continue unless the government provides concrete assurances on their demands.
“The agitation will continue until we receive concrete assurances on our basic demands,” protesters said.
The three-day demonstration has put pressure on the government to intervene and seek a resolution through discussions with the candidates and officials.
The outcome of the Chief Minister’s meeting is being closely watched by the protesting aspirants, with uncertainty remaining over whether the government’s response will defuse the agitation or lead to its further escalation.
