No semester system in West Bengal primary schools; Mamata Banerjee pulls up education minister

NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has said no to the semester system in primary classes, pulling up education minister Bratya Basu for introducing the policy without her approval.

In a review meeting with the ministers and top bureaucrats at the state secretariat, the West Bengal CM reportedly told Basu to discuss the policy matters with her beforehand.

The West Bengal Board of Primary Education (WBBPE) announced a semester system for Classes 1 to 5, starting from January 2025. The decision received opposition from teachers and experts who expressed concern about a lack of teachers.

"This (semester in primary schools) will not happen (here). I do not want to put unnecessary pressure on children but want to reduce the weight of their school bags. This cannot be applicable to primary school students who cannot even talk properly. Whatever system is there in schools would go on. There will not be any semester system in schools," Banerjee was quoted as saying.

The minister added that the semester system can be applied to colleges and universities because the students of higher education are accustomed to it.

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"I did not know nor did the chief secretary about the introduction of the semester system in primary classes. I have seen this in the newspaper. Look, Bratya, you are an education minister but please remember that if there is a new policy decision then please consult us," the PTI report further quoted the CM.

The CM also asked how the decision reached the media and snarked that four advisors took the decision and placed it in public.

Education minister’s explanation

Defending his position, the education minister said that he sent the proposal to the chief secretary and assured the CM that a decision would be made only after she okays it. He later told reporters that the board of primary education had sent a proposal to the West Bengal education department.

As the chief minister has not given her consent to the proposal, the policy will not be implemented, he added.

With inputs from PTI