According to media reports, the West Bengal state government has closed 933 state-aided schools due to zero enrolment. As per media reports, the state government has also directed the district administrations to physically verify such institutes and assess the possibility of reviving them or using their infrastructure for other public purposes.
The school education department, in a memorandum, has stated that several schools across the state were witnessing zero enrolment, resulting in under-utilisation or idling of educational infrastructure and other assets created through public expenditure.
As per reports, WB School Education Minister Dipak Barman mentioned that 933 primary, upper primary and secondary schools recorded zero enrolments. He stated that the situation has been alarming for the last 20 years and has increased in the last five years. 933 schools have been shut down after no students enrolled for admission. The minister also added that an inter-departmental exercise is being done.
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The minister added that the government will also look into the number of teachers available at these schools and asked the district magistrates to continue committees with the district education officer and the district inspector of schools as members. The committee has been asked to verify all zero-enrolment schools and prepare an inventory of their infrastructure, including school buildings, classrooms, and other facilities.
The committee will also assess the physical condition and ownership status of the land and buildings, availability of basic amenities and accessibility, along with identifying infrastructure lying idle or under-utilised and assessing its sustainability for alternative public purposes.
The department has also suggested that infrastructure should be considered for use as training centres. Health centres, agricultural and rural development centres, community facilities, public-service facilities or other suitable government or public purposes in consultation with concerned departments and authorities.
The committee has been directed to ensure that no child is deprived of schooling facilities and that every child has access to a school. Revival of schools is being considered, and the committee may examine the possibility of its revival or restructuring.
According to reports, the education department has also sought district-wise consolidated reports containing details of each zero-enrolment school and recommendations on continuation or revival of institutions or alternative utilisation of infrastructure for suitable public purposes.
The proposals will be examined at appropriate levels and, wherever necessary, a consolidated proposal for revival or alternative utilisation of the infrastructure will be placed before the authorities.
