West Bengal Government to promote all students from Classes 1 to 8, Get Details Here

On Thursday, 2^nd April 2020, the Government of West Bengal announced that students in from Classes 1 to 8 will be automatically promoted to higher class keeping in view of the emergent situation. Partha Chatterjee, Education Minister, Government of West Bengal was quoted saying that the School Education Department has decided that no student from Classes 1 to 8 will be detained in the WBBSE affiliated schools.

He said in view of the prevalent situation the Education Department has passed instructions to all state-run and state-aided schools to enforce the no-detention policy with full force. The policy is applicable for all students upto eighth standard.

Owing to spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, the School Education department had earlier ordered the closure of all educational institutions from 16^th March 2020 onwards. Additionally, a country-wide lockdown was implemented on the night on 24^th March 2020 until 14^th April 2020 in a move by the Government of India to contain the spread of the pandemic. The closure resulted in suspension of classes along with suspension or inordinate delay in holding class exams in different schools.

The Education Minister was also quoted saying that the Department is working on a mechanism to ensure that Classes from 9 to 12 can be held via usage of technology such as mail or video conferencing. He added that the mechanism can be implemented once it is approved by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Several other states such as Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan , Puducherry, etc. also announced promotion of students from Classes 1 to 9 without annual exams. Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Union HRD Minister, on 1^st April 2020, also advised the Central Board of Secondary Education to promote all students from Classes 1 to 8 to the higher class in view of the situation prevalent in the country.