Kolkata, 23 May (H.S.): The West Bengal government is preparing to introduce a new system for the management committees of state-run schools with the aim of reducing political influence in school administration. According to a draft framework prepared by the state’s School Education Department, members of school governing bodies will now be selected through elections instead of nominations.

Officials of the education department said that during the tenure of the previous All India Trinamool Congress government, members of governing bodies were appointed through nomination. Under the proposed system, however, elections will be conducted to ensure greater transparency and accountability.

Under the new framework, only the post of secretary will remain outside the election process. The position will automatically be held by the headmaster or headmistress of the respective school.

According to the proposed rules, more than 70 percent of the seats in governing bodies will be reserved for parents or guardians of students. The posts of president and vice-president will also be reserved for guardians. The remaining 30 percent of the seats will be allocated to local educationists.

An official of the education department said that two locally elected public representatives would also be included in each governing body. However, they must first be elected as members of the governing body before being inducted.

The government is also planning to fix the number of members in governing bodies. As per the proposal, primary schools will have a maximum of 15 members, secondary schools 20 members, and higher secondary schools 25 members.

The new system proposes a tenure of more than two years for governing body members. In addition, members completing one term will not be allowed to contest in the immediate next election. However, this restriction will not apply to the secretary post.

Teacher organisations have welcomed the initiative. Chandan Kumar Maity said that the proposal is in line with the recommendations of the National Education Policy and should be implemented at the earliest.

Meanwhile, Swapna Mondal said the new system is expected to reduce political interference in school administration.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey