West Bengal cabinet greenlights Rs 2,349.78-crore ADB-backed school education overhaul

In a major push to modernise school education, the West Bengal cabinet on Thursday approved a comprehensive programme “Enhancing School Education in West Bengal” with a total outlay of Rs 2,349.78 crore. The project will be jointly funded jointly by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), contributing 70%, and the state government bearing the remaining 30%.

Announcing the cabinet’s “in-principle” approval on X, state education minister Bratya Basu described the decision as “a visionary step” aimed at strengthening school infrastructure and transforming the educational landscape of the state.

“A visionary step under the leadership of chief minister Mamata Banerjee – strengthening school infrastructure, advancing technology integration, promoting modern scientific techniques at the school level, and ensuring sustainable, improved educational development across the state,” he posted on X.

West Bengal: School education project

According to sources in the education department, the programme will focus on upgrading physical infrastructure across government and government-aided schools, including the construction and renovation of classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and sanitation facilities.

“Significant thrust will also be placed on technology integration starting from smart classrooms and digital learning tools to improved ICT labs,” the education department official said.

The initiative is expected to promote modern scientific techniques at the school level, encouraging hands-on learning, innovation and practical exposure in science and technology subjects. Officials indicated that teacher training and capacity-building components will be embedded within the project to ensure effective implementation of new pedagogical methods.

The cabinet also reviewed proposals aimed at upgrading anganwadi centres, improving nutrition and enhancing pre-primary learning environments under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) framework, according to an official.

The project will also include the development and strengthening of model schools in backward and educationally under-served areas to bridge regional disparities. “Model schools will be taken up in identified backward pockets to ensure students in those regions have access to improved infrastructure, laboratories, digital facilities and quality academic resources on a par with better-performing institutions,” an education department official said.