Bengal mulls separate Board for English- medium schools: State government

With many English-medium schools in the state affiliated to Central boards (like ICSE and CBSE) playing hookey, the state government is mulling to set up a separate board for such schools.

Partha Chatterjee, the state education minister, said: "We are considering setting up of a separate board for English medium schools which are affiliated to central boards. ICSE schools follow the policies and guidelines of the Centre. Such schools, which are in our state, are not listening to any of our suggestions or proposals."

He further said that it would not have become necessary to set up a separate board if they gave importance to the state government's proposals and suggestions. "We have to set up the board if they do not listen to us," said Chatterjee.

According to some senior officials of the state education department, the schools affiliated to Central boards do not give importance to what the state government suggests. "They hardly listen to our proposals related to both academic and administrative issues," the official said adding that there were also differences of opinion over aptitude tests proposed by one of the central boards.

The official said that aptitude tests were proposed for students in class V and VIII by the board. But, a section of schools in the state affiliated under the central board was not ready to accept the proposal.

Also, the exorbitant fee structure of Centrally-affiliated schools is another major reason for the state government to contemplate the formation of a separate board. It may be recalled that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a meeting with representatives of private schools and took up many issues including regulation of fees. The Chief Minister had taken the initiative after receiving several complaints from parents of schools charging hefty fees.