WBBSE fined 50 West Bengal government schools Rs 5,000 per student for failing to register Class X candidates or fix data by deadlines, ensuring 2026 Madhyamik exam eligibility. Per Calcutta HC order, payments due Monday; schools cry fund crunch, unions call it harassment amid inefficiencies.
Deadline Drama Unfolds
The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) summoned 50 government schools after they missed registration or data correction deadlines for 2026 Madhyamik exams. Friday hearings deemed explanations unsatisfactory, imposing Rs 5,000 penalties per affected student, payable by Monday. This affects prior cohort students and late Class X enrollees across 9,300+ schools—only these 50 lagged despite extensions.
Board President Ramanuj Ganguly stressed student futures over school lapses, citing 10 months of opportunities. Some schools face Rs 1 lakh+ bills for 20-43 pending students from distant transfers.
Schools Push Back
Headmasters' union AFSHM labels it "corporate harassment," highlighting no grants, rising costs (midday meals, Kanyashree, uniforms), and stagnant Rs 240/student fees for 15 years. They wrote to CM Mamata Banerjee, decrying ad-hoc WBBSE operations and ignored teacher inputs. Schools can't pass fines to students/parents.
Penalty Provisions
Fines align with Calcutta HC directives for timely compliance. WBBSE prioritizes exam access over leniency.
Critical Points
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50 Schools Hit: Max 43 pending students each; some tried prior cohort registrations late.
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HC-Backed Fine: Rs 5,000/student for delays/transfers, due Monday.
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Student Safeguard: Ensures 2026 Madhyamik eligibility despite inefficiencies.
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Fund Crunch Cry: No grants, high project costs; unions seek CM intervention.
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Rare Laggards: 50/9,300+ schools failed post-September deadline.
This escalates tensions over board accountability.
Sources: The Indian Express, Millennium Post, ETV Bharat.