At the culmination of Students Week on Wednesday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee talked about the evolving educational scenario while listing her government’s achievements in the field. She said Bengal stood first in skill training and micro, small and medium industries, adding that there was no need to go out of the state for work.
“With changing times, we need to look at subjects like artificial intelligence and data science,” she said. “Bengal is the heart of culture and education. From Nasa to Washington, everywhere there are people from Bengal. The children of Bengal have spread light all over the world,” she said.
The chief minister said there are around 500 ITIs and polytechnics. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)
Speaking about government schemes for students, Banerjee mentioned the smart card for Rs 10 lakh given for higher education. “Girls receive Kanyashree from the time they begin school till they go to university. There is also the students’ credit card, which allows students to study abroad or anywhere in the country,” she added.
The chief minister said there are around 500 ITIs and polytechnics. “There are fashion institutes and hotel management courses. Currently, 88 lakh girls are availing of the Kanyashree facility. Over 18 crore free books and bags have been distributed to students. Also, Rs 10,000 is given to each student in Class 11 for smartphones under the ‘Tarun er Sapno’ scheme,” she added.
Banerjee further said that if students wished to study outside the state they could do so, but with industries coming to Bengal, there was no need to seek work elsewhere. “Lots of industries are coming to Bengal. So there is no need to go anywhere for work. Go to study,” she said.
Speaking about government schemes for students, Banerjee mentioned the smart card for Rs 10 lakh given for higher education. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)
Banerjee’s statements come at a time when BJP leader and former Union minister Subhash Sarkar has criticised her government over school dropout rates. According to Sarkar, even a state as large as Uttar Pradesh has a lower number of school dropouts than Bengal.
Providing district-wise data, Sarkar said, “In Birbhum, the dropout rate is 17.2 per cent, in Murshidabad it is 16.9 per cent, in South 24 Parganas it is 16.1 per cent, in Purba Bardhaman it is 15.6 per cent, in Uttar Dinajpur it is 15.1 per cent and in Malda it is 14.5 per cent. In all districts the dropout rate is above 12 per cent.”
The BJP leader further alleged that no one keeps track of what happens to school dropouts. “There are 70 lakh migrant workers from our state, and with the high unemployment rate, no one knows where these students are going,” he said.
A recent report from the education ministry for the 2023-24 academic year showed that the dropout rate at the secondary level in Bengal was 18.75 per cent, an official in the state education department said.
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