West Bengal to include Syama Prasad Mookerjee in school syllabus
The state government will remove the Singur movement chapter and introduce new subjects like Information and Communication Technology.
The West Bengal government will add lessons on the life and work of Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee to school books, according to the Hindustan Times. School Education Minister Deepak Barman announced on Wednesday that the revised syllabus will focus more on the history of the state and its notable figures.
The updated curriculum will remove the chapter on the Singur anti-land acquisition movement previously found in Class 8 books. A committee also suggested deleting the Kanyashree scheme chapter from Class 6 textbooks. Mookerjee will be mentioned in every textbook with a short introduction to his life.
New changes include introducing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a structured subject for students in Classes 5 to 8. Third-language textbooks will also be provided for Classes 7 and 8. Additionally, the full text of 'Vande Mataram' will appear at the start of every textbook.
Barman stated that discussions are ongoing regarding the pass-fail system and the no-detention policy up to Class 9. The government is also looking to reschedule the 2027 Madhyamik and Higher Secondary examinations to prevent conflicts with the Census, which requires using schoolteachers.
The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) has suggested moving the Class 10 Madhyamik exams to March 2-16. The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) may propose holding fourth-semester exams after March 16. Barman said revised dates will be announced by next week.