Anglo-Bengali schools want govt recognition

Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, February 7, 2007

West Bengal Nursery School Welfare Association (WBNSWA) demanded on Wednesday that all non-government Anglo-Bengali pre-primary Schools of the state be given government recognition and brought under the ambit of Sarva Siksha Abhijan (SSA).
The WBNSWA filed a deputation in this regard to Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi. There are around 17,000 pre-primary Anglo-Bengali schools in the state. “The primary government schools begin from Class I and students above five years are eligible for admission. The government should recognise our job of catering to this huge student population, below five years of age,” said Debiprashad Paul, general secretary of WBNSWA.
WBNSWA further claimed that the government-run schools are a failure and that guardians prefer to send their ward to Anglo-Bengali schools. “In order to attract students the government provides midday meal. Our fees are low and we cannot always cater to the growing demand. We do not want money from the government, but recognition would be welcomed,” said Paul. “We prepare the base of the students who shine brightly in Madhyamik and HS examination,” he added.
The teachers also want the Anglo Bengali Pre Primary schools to be brought under SSA. “If we are brought under SSA we too can teach students free of cost. The governor has understood our problems and has agreed to take up the matter,” said Paul.
Almost a decade back the state government decided to do away with pre-primary schools and shifted all teachers to the primary schools.
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