West Bengal government launches career guidance portal for students

The West Bengal government has launched a unique career portal for students of Classes IX to XII to help them get the right guidance.

The career guidance portal has been launched in association with UNICEF, Webel and Schoolnet India.

“As far as we know, we are the only state government to launch such a career portal for students. This will be a big step towards guiding our students to get to the career of their choice. The site will have several interesting career news, information and ways to get in touch with several national and international institutions,” West Bengal education minister Bratya Basu said at the launch of the portal.

The portal will have information on about 400+ careers offered by several national and international colleges, institutes, universities and scholarships. Students can also find out about scholarship provisions, speak to institute representatives and teachers or connect with career counsellors.

The student credit card scheme launched by chief minister Mamata Banerjee under which students will be eligible for a loan of up to Rs 10 lakh for higher studies will also include international institutions now.

Asked about the School Service Commission (SSC) examination for recruitment of school teachers, Basu said in the West Bengal Assembly that the commission will provide jobs to 15,000 teachers once the court cases are resolved. The next hearing for SSC-related court cases is slated for November 17.

Basu had earlier said that the SSC will try to hold teacher's recruitment examinations every year from now on. “Chief minister Mamata Banerjee wants transparency in the recruitment process. We are trying to hold teachers’ recruitment-related examinations (SSC and TET for primary) every year. The high court has given its judgment regarding upper primary teachers' recruitment and the SSC will do the needful,” Basu said.