'Number of Madhyamik examinees from Bengali medium schools dismal'

Kolkata: A study by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) has revealed that only a few students have appeared from Bengali medium government and government-aided schools in Kolkata for Madhyamik examination this year.

As per reports by WBBSE, there are around 44 schools in the city itself, from which five or less than five students have sat for the Madhyamik examination this year. There are 152 schools in which the number of students who appeared have been found to be 20 or less.

The total number of state and state-aided schools in the city presently stands at 458.

"This statistics is a clear pointer that the students are shifting to English medium schools. We have already started English medium in some schools in the city to address this issue," a senior official of WBBSE said.

There was a time when schools like Brahma Boys School and Oriental Seminary were among the top schools in terms of student enrollment. Rabindranath Tagore received his primary education in Brahmo Boys. However, this year only six students from this school had appeared for Madhyamik.

"We are not getting enough students even though we have made efforts to bring in students," said Amit Chandra, principal of Brahmo Boys.

The number of students who had appeared from Oriental Seminary stands at 14. A solitary student had sat for the Madhyamik examination from as many as four schools, including Kumar Ashutosh Institution in Paikpara, Bangabasi Collegiate School, Ahiritola School and Sri Vidyamandir Girl's school.

Taltala High School had witnessed two students, while Hindu Academy also had the same number who had appeared for the secondary examination.

A board official alleged that recruitment of teachers under political grounds during the Left Front rule is contributing to this trend. A number of primary schools run by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation are also facing similar problems.

"We have found out that in some schools the number of students is relatively high, while in others it is distressingly low. We will be forwarding the report to the state Education department, so that necessary steps can be taken to address the issue," a senior WBBSE official said.