2 hrs ago
Bengal to Permanently Shut 933 Schools With Zero Students
The Bengal government plans to permanently close 933 schools that have no students.
These schools have reportedly had no new admissions for five to 20 years.
Because there are no students, classes have effectively stopped.
Officials say the buildings and land are not being maintained properly.
District committees will inspect each school’s land, buildings and playgrounds.
They must report their findings within 30 days.
The government may give the properties to other departments for public use.
Kunal Ghosh said the decline began decades ago as more families chose private English-medium schools.
The Bengal government plans to permanently close 933 primary, upper-primary and secondary schools with no admissions for five to 20 years.
District-level committees led by district magistrates will assess the schools’ land, buildings, playgrounds and other assets.
The committees must submit their findings to the state government within 30 days.
Officials said unused facilities are deteriorating and may be transferred to other departments for public purposes.
Trinamool Congress MLA Kunal Ghosh blamed the enrolment decline on policies and changing preferences dating to the Left Front era.
- Who
- The Bengal government, the school education department and district-level committees headed by district magistrates.
- What
- A decision to permanently shut 933 schools with no students and assess their assets for possible alternative use.
- Where
- Bengal, in government schools across the state.
- When
- The schools have reportedly had no admissions for five to 20 years; committees must report within 30 days.
- Why
- The government says the schools have no academic activity, their assets are deteriorating, and the land and buildings could serve other public purposes.
Government and Trinamool Congress Position
Political Criticism and Alternative Explanation
Reason for school closures
Government and Trinamool Congress Position
The government says schools without students have halted academic activity, while unused land and infrastructure are deteriorating and should be assessed for public use.
Political Criticism and Alternative Explanation
The reported political debate questions the broader causes of declining enrolment rather than disputing that the schools have very few or no students.
Responsibility for declining enrolment
Government and Trinamool Congress Position
Trinamool Congress MLA Kunal Ghosh says the problem is decades old and not confined to the present government.
Political Criticism and Alternative Explanation
Ghosh attributes the decline to policies during the Left Front era, including the withdrawal of English from primary education and delayed computer education, along with growing demand for private English-medium schools.
Key facts
- Schools affected
- 933 primary, upper-primary and secondary schools
- Enrolment status
- No admissions for periods ranging from five to 20 years
- Assessment deadline
- District committees must submit reports within 30 days
- Committee leadership
- District-level committees will be headed by district magistrates
- Assets under review
- Land, buildings, playgrounds and other infrastructure
- Possible reuse
- Assets may be transferred to other departments through inter-departmental exchange
- Earlier low-enrolment figure
- Around 8,000 government schools reportedly had fewer than 50 students during the previous regime
Quotes
Dipak Barman
West Bengal School Education Minister
“There are at least 933 schools where no admission has taken place for periods ranging from five to 20 years. This didn’t happen today but for the last 20 years these schools have been closed down. These schools have buildings and land that can be put to better use. We have formed a committee to examine the matter and submit a report.”
thestatesman.com
“With no students, academic activities had effectively come to a halt, while the lack of maintenance was resulting in the deterioration of valuable government land and infrastructure.”
thestatesman.com
Sources
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