1 hr ago
West Bengal Notices 450 BEd Colleges Over Degree Scam Claims
West Bengal inspected all of its 602 BEd colleges.
The inspections were prompted by claims that some colleges were selling teaching degrees without proper classes.
Officials said 53 colleges could not be found operating and 265 were non-functional or unaffiliated.
Some colleges were allegedly running from homes, while others had poor buildings or facilities.
The colleges that received notices have 21 days to explain what they will fix.
The government says colleges that do not provide satisfactory answers could lose their affiliation.
The education minister also said the state will publish a report about alleged corruption in education.
These are government allegations, and the colleges have been given an opportunity to respond.
West Bengal issued show-cause notices to nearly 450 BEd colleges over alleged cash-for-degree scams and major lapses.
Inspections of all 602 colleges found 53 apparently non-existing and 265 categorised as non-functional.
Officials found 17 colleges operating from residential addresses, while 121 had dire infrastructure and 114 scored below 30 out of 100.
The colleges have 21 days to respond, after which the department may withdraw their affiliation.
Higher Education Minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay said a white paper would detail alleged education corruption under the previous TMC-led government.
- Who
- West Bengal’s Higher Education Department and Minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay; nearly 450 BEd colleges received notices.
- What
- The department issued show-cause notices after inspections identified alleged infrastructure, affiliation, operational and teaching-standard failures linked to cash-for-degree claims.
- Where
- Across West Bengal’s 602 BEd colleges.
- When
- The inspections took place in July and August; the notices were announced on Thursday and give colleges 21 days to reply.
- Why
- The inspections followed allegations, including a letter from a neighbouring state’s chief secretary, that students were buying professional degrees without attending classes.
Government allegations and proposed action
Colleges’ opportunity to respond
Validity of college operations
Government allegations and proposed action
The minister said inspections found 53 colleges apparently non-existing, 265 non-functional and 17 operating from residential addresses.
Colleges’ opportunity to respond
The colleges were given 21 days to explain the findings and describe corrective measures; no detailed response from the colleges was reported.
Possible penalties
Government allegations and proposed action
The Higher Education Department warned that colleges providing unsatisfactory replies could be de-affiliated.
Colleges’ opportunity to respond
The notices create an opportunity for the affected institutions to respond before any affiliation is withdrawn.
Broader education corruption claims
Government allegations and proposed action
The minister alleged that degrees were being sold and promised a white paper on alleged corruption under the previous TMC-led government.
Colleges’ opportunity to respond
The article reports no response from the previous government or the named colleges to these allegations.
Key facts
- Colleges inspected
- 602 BEd colleges across West Bengal
- Show-cause notices
- Nearly 450 colleges
- Non-existing institutions
- 53 colleges
- Non-functional institutions
- 265 colleges categorised as fake, unqualified or unaffiliated
- Average inspection score
- 51.5 out of 100
- Response deadline
- 21 days
- Annual degrees
- More than 62,000 BEd degrees are awarded annually in the state
Quotes
Jagannath Chattopadhyay
West Bengal Higher Education Minister
“Very soon the Higher education department will bring out all the corruption which has happened in the last 15 years… We will bring out a white paper on corruption, and we will send the findings to the commission formed under Justice Biswajit Basu.”
indianexpress.com
“We then looked into the matter because the allegation was that their state’s education system was getting affected as the students are no longer studying there but are coming to West Bengal and buying degrees”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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