Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Bengal Plans Two CM Shri Schools Per District
West Bengal plans to create two special CM Shri schools in every district.
Two existing government schools in each district will be improved and given new names.
Smart boards, digital laboratories and better teachers are planned for these schools.
Students with strong academic performance could enter from Class VI after taking an entrance test.
Hostels may help children who live far away, although the exact fees and arrangements are not settled.
The state also plans to upgrade 600 schools through the PM Shri programme.
Two separate residential schools will train students who are good at sports.
These sports schools will not charge fees and will help students compete in major events.
The chief minister also said mobile-phone use is harming some students and may require stricter rules.
West Bengal plans to upgrade two government schools in each of its 23 districts as CM Shri schools.
The schools will admit meritorious students from Class VI through entrance examinations and offer digital laboratories, smart boards, modern infrastructure and high-quality teachers.
Hostel facilities are planned or may be provided for students from distant parts of each district, with possible nominal tuition and hostel fees.
The state also plans to upgrade 600 schools under the centrally funded PM Shri programme and establish two residential sports centres of excellence.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari raised concerns about schoolchildren’s mobile-phone use and suggested tougher controls without detailing a policy.
- Who
- West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and School Education Minister Dipak Barman announced the plans.
- What
- The state plans two CM Shri schools in every district, 600 PM Shri school upgrades, and two sports centres of excellence.
- When
- The announcements were made on September 5 at a Teachers’ Day programme.
- Where
- The education projects will cover West Bengal’s 23 districts; the sports schools are planned for northern and western parts of the state.
- Why
- The stated aims are to improve education infrastructure and standards, support meritorious students, promote sports and help West Bengal compete more strongly with other states.
- CM Shri schools
- Two upgraded government schools in each of West Bengal’s 23 districts
- Admissions
- Meritorious students may enter from Class VI through an entrance examination
- Facilities
- Planned features include hostels, digital laboratories, smart boards, modern infrastructure and high-quality teachers
- PM Shri upgrades
- Six hundred schools in West Bengal are planned for upgrade under the PM Shri programme
- Sports schools
- Two residential sports schools are planned, one in north Bengal and one in western Bengal
- Sports fees
- The two sports schools will not charge students any fee
- Mobile-phone concern
- Adhikari said excessive mobile-phone use is harming schoolchildren and indicated that stricter action may be considered
