West Bengal: In accordance with the principles of federalism enshrined in the Constitution and to prevent centralization in the domain of education, the government of West Bengal has introduced the State Education Policy, 2023. This policy advocates for a three-language formula for students in Classes 5 to 8, with a special emphasis on the Bengali language.
As per one of the recommendations in policy document, it states, ‘The committee also recommends that Bangla [Bengali] as a subject may be introduced from Class 1 to Class 10 for students of other mediums of instruction. A suitable curriculum and syllabus may be formulated accordingly.’
The education policy, which was released on September 5, has been projected for the next 13 years. The document emphasizes that while developing the education policy, the committee sought input from a variety of existing education policies, such as the NEP (National Education Policy) 2020 reports and the recently published Task Force for Implementation of NEP 2020 in Maharashtra report. Moreover, the Kerala Report on the NEP 2020 was also taken into consideration during the process.
The three-language guideline for students in Classes 5 to 8 places emphasis on using the students’ mother tongue. According to the policy document, the three-language formula should be implemented in schools for these students, depending on the availability of resources and infrastructure. It is recommended that the medium of instruction in the school be the first language or mother tongue, such as Nepali in Nepali medium schools, Santhali in Santhali medium schools, Rajbanshi in Rajbanshi medium schools, and Bengali in Bangla medium schools.
Introduction of Semester System
- Another important recommendation made in the State Education Policy is the introduction of a semester system for a more effective assessment starting from Class 8 and continuing in phases throughout the next three years.
- At the higher secondary level, the new policy places emphasis on the inclusion of challenging coursework, active participation in extracurricular activities, exploration of various career options, and the implementation of a semester system in Classes 11 and 12 to facilitate a smoother transition from school to university in a phased manner.
- In the field of higher education, the new policy suggests enhancing the gross enrolment ratio (GER), reassessing the current expansion policies in higher education, promoting resource sharing between universities and colleges, and enhancing the employability of students.
The document highlights the consistent recommendation for allocating 6% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for education, starting from the Kothari Commission to the National Education Policy 2020. It emphasizes the need for the Central government to assist State governments in allocating a proportional share of State GDP for education, considering that education falls under the Concurrent List of the Constitution. Additionally, the policy document advocates for the promotion of systematic private financing alongside state funding.
