Bengal must rebuild public education from the ground up: Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta

Speaking at the Education for Viksit Bharat Summit – East India Edition, organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Kolkata, Dasgupta urged greater private sector participation in education while outlining the BJP government's vision for a skill-driven, industry-oriented education ecosystem.

"I don't mean History textbooks," Dasgupta remarked, stressing that the government's focus is on creating employable talent through investment in teachers, strengthening public universities and developing Centres of Excellence.

Describing the private sector as the "actual enabler" of growth, he said the government would create a conducive environment for businesses to invest. "Bengal is back with a bang!" he declared, inviting industry to partner in rebuilding the state's education landscape.

Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar echoed the emphasis on skill-based education, asserting that West Bengal has the potential to emerge as a leader in national development. Criticising the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government over the teacher recruitment scam and the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, he promised transparent recruitment of 50,000 teaching and non-teaching staff, with 33 percent reservation for women, and reiterated the BJP's commitment to "jobs without bribes" and corruption-free recruitment through public examinations.

Majumdar also announced plans for Tribal Universities, Kendriya Vidyalayas, women's universities, the strengthening of Sanskrit College, Vande Mataram Cultural Centres and fellowships of Rs. 50,000 for women.

Advocating vocational education from Class VIII onwards, he said Bengal's "launching pad is ready and awaits ignition," expressing confidence that the state could reclaim its historical economic prominence.

ICC President Brij Bhushan Agarwal, Chairman Satyam Roychowdhury and Senior Vice President Parthiv Neotia highlighted the importance of industry-academia collaboration and skill development aligned with market needs. Vice-Chancellors from leading institutions, including Jadavpur University, UEM and Sister Nivedita University, also called for greater emphasis on innovation, entrepreneurship and startup culture from the school level.

The summit underscored the new West Bengal government's pro-industry approach to education, with discussions centring on employability, skill development and public-private partnerships as key drivers of the state's economic revival.

(Reporting by Hrishita Sarkar)