Bengal Educational Institutions Grapple with Central Forces Deployment Ahead of Elections
Educational institutes across West Bengal are facing significant anxiety and logistical challenges as the local administration has initiated the requisitioning of schools and colleges to accommodate 240 companies of central forces. This deployment is scheduled to commence from March 1, raising alarms about the impact on students' academic futures.
Government and Administrative Concerns
Education Minister Bratya Basu has publicly flagged this pressing issue, emphasizing that students will be significantly affected by the accommodation of forces. He stated, "The Centre should think about the future of children." This sentiment echoes the broader worry among educational authorities regarding the disruption of learning environments.
An officer detailed the deployment plan, revealing that in the first phase, 110 companies of CRPF, 55 companies of BSF, 27 companies of ITBP, 27 companies of SSB, and 21 companies of CISF will be stationed. This advance deployment is aimed at maintaining law and order in Bengal to quell possible protests after the final electoral roll is published on Saturday, the officer explained. Specifically, twelve companies of central forces will camp at institutes in Kolkata, with local police stations alerting several schools in Kolkata and North and South 24 Parganas about the impending arrival of forces on campuses starting Saturday.
Impact on Schools and Academic Activities
St Paul's High School headmaster Nipanjan Mandal expressed deep concern, noting that two companies of central forces will arrive at their school on Sunday. "A major portion of our building will be occupied indefinitely. Academic activities will be disrupted, and we do not know how to hold HS practical exams in March. The first summative exams are likely to be held in April," he said. This uncertainty is compounded by the indefinite nature of the occupation, which threatens to derail critical examination schedules.
The headmaster of another central Kolkata school highlighted a proactive stance, stating they declined the request due to ongoing class 11 exams. However, this is not a universal solution, as many institutions are compelled to comply with the requisition orders.
Several school heads pointed out additional hardships, including financial losses incurred during such periods every time forces are deployed. Repairs for any damage become the institute's responsibility, adding to the burden on already strained educational budgets.
Challenges for Higher Education Institutions
Jogesh Chandra Choudhury Law College principal Sunanda Goenka voiced similar worries, indicating that after the central forces arrive at their campus in a day or two, it will not be possible to run classes, though administrative work will continue. "The 9th-semester exams will be held in March-end, but if the forces stay on, we do not know how it will be held. The university must look into it," she urged, calling for intervention to safeguard academic integrity.
Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri College principal Pankaj Kumar Roy added that teaching would be hampered until the elections conclude. "We plan to hold online classes. Our college is also a centre for CU's 3rd-semester exams. We will urge CU not to allot more than 200 examinees," he said, outlining contingency measures to mitigate the disruption. This shift to online learning, while a temporary fix, underscores the broader adaptation challenges faced by educational institutions during this period.
The collective apprehension among Bengal's educational community highlights a critical tension between security needs and educational priorities, with the deployment of central forces casting a long shadow over the academic calendar and student welfare in the region.
