Mamata Banerjee Refuses Semester System Proposal For Primary Schools
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee disapproved the proposal for a semester system in primary classes and reprimanded education minister Bratya Basu for making it public without her consultation. During an official meeting with ministers and top bureaucrats at the state secretariat, CM Banerjee asked Basu to consult with her on policy matters such as this.
Mamata Banerjee refused to implement the semester system in primary schools and said “I do not want to put unnecessary pressure on chidren but want to reduce the weight of their school bags. This can not be applicable to primary school students who cannot even talk properly”. She further said that the school would work according to the present sytem and no semester system in schools will be implemented.
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However, the Bengal CM said that the system can be continued in colleges and universities as the students are accustomed to the pattern.
Banerjee asked the minister not to discuss any such decision in the press without the proper consultation. She herself knew the information from the newspaper, she said.
“How did it reach the media? Four advisors have taken a decision and it was placed.” the CM said.
Basu said he also saw it in the press and sent the proposal to the Chief Secretary, and the decision would have been implemented only after Banerjee’s nod. He later told that the board of primary education had sent a proposal to the Education department in this regard.
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“We forwarded it to the Chief Secretary as it is a policy matter. As the chief minister has made it clear that she is not giving consent to the proposal, the matter rests here”.
