West Bengal

IIE DIGITAL: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday unveiled a sweeping roadmap for the state's education sector, announcing the adoption of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 alongside a renewed focus on technology-driven learning and India's cultural heritage.

Addressing a press conference at Nabanna, Adhikari said the government aims to strike a balance between modern education and traditional values. He stressed that students should receive quality education in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and data science while also gaining a deeper understanding of India's history, Sanskrit and cultural legacy.

The Chief Minister confirmed that Bengal would implement the NEP 2020, a move expected to make the state eligible for various Central government grants and educational schemes. As part of the plan, the government will approve the establishment of Atal Tinkering Laboratories in 1,000 secondary and higher secondary schools to promote innovation, STEM education, computational thinking and hands-on scientific learning.

Highlighting the government's emphasis on Sanskrit, Adhikari said dedicated funds would be allocated to schools promoting the language. He also pledged to strengthen institutions dedicated to Sanskrit studies and encouraged schools to expand Sanskrit education as part of preserving India's civilisational heritage.

On teacher recruitment, the Chief Minister reiterated the government's commitment to appointing 50,000 teachers before the end of the current financial year. He asserted that future recruitment through the School Service Commission (SSC) would remain free from political interference and would strictly follow Supreme Court directives. According to him, interviews for the remaining candidates from the 2025 SSC recruitment process will be completed soon after resolving issues related to reservation policies.

Adhikari also announced reforms aimed at improving school infrastructure and governance. He said the government would prioritise providing reliable electricity, LPG connections for mid-day meal kitchens and access to safe drinking water in schools. In addition, parents will be given representation in school governing bodies, following a model already implemented in several BJP- and NDA-ruled states.

The Chief Minister further claimed that admissions to state engineering colleges had witnessed a significant turnaround, stating that all undergraduate engineering seats had been filled this year compared with around 30 per cent occupancy during the previous admission cycle.