West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Opposes Semester System in Primary Schools

Kolkata, January 2, 2025 – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has firmly opposed the proposal to introduce a semester system in primary schools. During a review meeting with ministers and top bureaucrats at the state secretariat, Banerjee expressed her disapproval, stating that the semester system is not suitable for young children.

Banerjee emphasized that primary school students are too young to handle the pressures of a semester system. “These young kids are learning ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,’ and they are being told to go through semesters,” she said. She added that the current system in place will continue, and the semester system will be maintained only in colleges and universities where students are accustomed to it.

The Chief Minister also criticized Education Minister Bratya Basu for making the proposal public without her approval. “I did not know nor did the chief secretary about the introduction of the semester system in primary classes,” Banerjee said. She instructed Basu to consult her before making any policy decisions in the future.

The West Bengal Board of Primary Education had initially proposed the semester system for classes I to V, but following Banerjee’s disapproval, the plan has been put on hold. The Chief Minister’s stance is clear: the semester system will not be implemented in primary schools under her administration.