Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, January 3, 2025, Kolkata : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has made it clear that the proposed semester system in primary education will not be implemented in the state’s schools. The matter came to light during an administrative meeting held at Nabanna on Thursday, where Banerjee expressed her strong dissatisfaction with Education Minister Bratya Basu’s handling of the issue.
According to sources, during the meeting, Banerjee reprimanded Basu for introducing the semester system in primary education without prior consultation with her or the Chief Secretary. “I saw it in the paper. The Chief Secretary didn’t know either. Bratya, you are the Education Minister, but you need to consult us before deciding on new policies in education,” Mamata stated.
In his defense, Basu responded, “Didi, I also saw it in the paper and informed the Chief Secretary the day after tomorrow. A notification will only be issued if you approve it.” However, Mamata remained unimpressed and further criticized the way the matter was handled. “How did it come out in the paper first? I don’t want to hear anything. The public knew it first, the message has already gone out to the media. How did this happen?” she questioned, visibly upset.
Basu was unable to provide a satisfactory answer to the Chief Minister’s concerns, leading Mamata to question the decision-making process. “Four advisors decided together and said it’s done! Is this how things should work? I want to reduce the burden of children’s bags, not add to it. Education today is already too heavy. Children can’t even speak properly, and you want to give them semesters? What works in college doesn’t work in school,” she said.
Mamata Banerjee firmly rejected the introduction of the semester system at the primary school level, reiterating that the existing system would continue. She emphasized the need for consultation before any educational policy decisions are made, warning that any new initiatives would first have to be discussed with the relevant authorities before being shared with the media. “If we take any decision regarding education, we will have to talk to them first, then it will go to the media,” she concluded.
This exchange has raised questions about the communication and decision-making processes within the state government, particularly in the field of education. It appears that Mamata Banerjee is taking a more hands-on approach to ensure that educational reforms are thoroughly vetted and discussed before being rolled out.