West Bengal Govt To Make Decision On 4-Year UG Course Next Week: Education minister

West Bengal Government will make the final decision on the 4-year UG course next week.

West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu has addressed the concerns raised by teachers and students regarding the delayed launch of the 4-year honours course at the undergraduate level in state-run and aided higher educational institutions. He has assured that the government will make the final decision on the matter by next week, as reported by PTI.

When asked about the introduction of four-year UG courses in state-run and aided higher educational institutions, Bratya Basu said, "I will meet the chief minister next week to hold detailed talks on the issue (4-year UG course). We will come up with the notice afterwards."  

The delay in issuing an official notice to change the duration of honours studies in the state from three to four years has raised concerns among college authorities and teacher associations. 

 "We had participated in various workshops on New Education Policy till mid-May. We had even given our views to the advisory board of the higher education department but there has not been any such communique," news agency PTI quoted the Principal of government-run Lady Brabourne College, Siuli Sarkar as saying.

"We have to introduce the four-year honours course if we are asked. But there is no notification from the government on the matter as yet." Sarkar said.

West Bengal College and University Teachers Association President Subhoday Dasgupta said that none actually knows when the notice on the UG honours course will reach the higher educational institutions.

"To our dismay, this state government had accepted the NEP 2020 draft recommendations early this year and announced it will have four-year honours courses instead of the hitherto studied three-year honours," he added.

He said WBCUTA will "oppose" any move by the state government to introduce four-year undergraduate courses in the state.

The principals of three additional colleges have also expressed their lack of knowledge regarding the implementation of the NEP draft, which includes the introduction of four-year honours courses starting in 2023. Among the key features of the National Education Policy, 2020, is the extension of undergraduate honours courses to four years, replacing the current three-year structure.

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