SFİ slams Bengal Govt for education crisis amid teacher shortage and school closures

The Students' Federation of India (SFİ) has raised concerns over the worsening state of education in West Bengal, citing a significant shortage of teachers that has forced the closure of hundreds of schools. According to SFİ, the teacher shortage has led to the shutdown of approximately 3,500 schools across the state, particularly in rural and underdeveloped areas. Many schools that remain open are operating with minimal staff, leading to inadequate educational experiences for students.

SFİ officials also drew attention to the increasing trend of privatization in the state’s education sector. The organization accused the West Bengal government of pushing privatization policies that they believe are detrimental to public education. This move, according to SFİ, is contributing to growing inequalities in access to quality education, as private schools often remain out of reach for economically disadvantaged students. They expressed concern that this trend is widening the gap between students from wealthy backgrounds and those from marginalized communities.

The SFİ further pointed out that the state government has been slow to respond to the crisis, criticizing both the Chief Minister and the Education Minister for not taking sufficient action. They specifically highlighted the lack of response to the case of a local girl from Canning, Nasima, who had been affected by the educational shortcomings in the area. SFİ claimed that the government had not made any effort to engage with the affected families, signaling a disconnect between the leadership and the reality faced by the people.

In addition to the teacher shortage, SFİ highlighted the broader challenges facing the education system, including inadequate infrastructure and lack of resources in many public schools. They emphasized that the state government must prioritize recruitment of qualified teachers to fill vacant positions and ensure schools are adequately staffed. The SFİ also stressed the need for an overhaul of existing educational policies to better address the needs of students across the state.

As part of their efforts to address the crisis, SFİ announced plans to visit Bikas Bhavan on January 27 to present a mark sheet to Education Minister Barto Basu. The mark sheet will outline the impact of the current education policies on student performance, underscoring the consequences of teacher shortages and inadequate infrastructure. SFİ has called for urgent reforms to stabilize the education system, particularly in rural areas, and to ensure that schools remain operational for all students.