West Bengal government is working on an ambitious plan to modernise 12,300 government and government-aided schools in the state with up to 25 lakh funding for infrastructure and academic upgrade.
The aim of the initiative is to enhance the quality of education by modernizing schools, adding new learning tools to the education system and providing a better experience for students. The selected schools are spread in all 23 districts in West Bengal and will see improvements in smart classrooms, science laboratories, playgrounds and digital teaching resources.
South 24 Parganas Tops the List
According to the district-wise list prepared by the government, South 24 Parganas has the highest number of schools selected under the programme, with 1,661 institutions included.
It is followed by North 24 Parganas, where 1,382 schools have been identified while Murshidabad has 1,075 schools.
The list also includes some renowned educational institutions such as Ramakrishna Mission schools and Bardhaman Town School which were selected under the PM SHRI initiative.
Focus on Better Infrastructure
The grants are expected to be used to improve physical infrastructure at the school level and for teaching at the school level.
The areas for improvement identified are:
- Modern science and computer laboratories
- Smart classrooms with digital learning tools
- Improved playgrounds and sports facilities
- Better classroom infrastructure
- Advanced educational resources to help with teaching and learning
As per their eligibility (and with any specific requirements) schools can receive grants of up to 25 lakh to carry out these upgrades.
The modern infrastructure will help to make the learning environment more engaging for students in government schools, they say.
Addressing Challenges in Public Education
The modernisation campaign comes at a time when government schools in West Bengal remain under many pressures including teacher shortages, decreased student enrolment and inadequate staffing.
According to recent education data, the number of government schools with enrolled students declined from 93,715 in 2024-25 to 92,800 in 2025-26, a decrease of 915 schools in a year.
Educationists say improvements in infrastructure are welcome, but that they must be accompanied by adequate recruitment of teaching and non-teaching personnel to have any meaningful change.
Demand for Teacher Recruitment
The government's announcement, Chandan Maity, the Headmasters' Association leader, said, highlighted the staffing crisis in schools across the state.
"Thousands of schools are closing. In some places there is only one teacher or two teachers. We appeal for the recruitment of teachers and non-teaching staff to save the schools," he said.
Education experts voiced similar concerns that improved buildings and digital classrooms alone may not be enough to revive government schools unless vacancies are filled and student enrolment improves.
The West Bengal government hopes the large-scale modernisation programme will enhance public education, offer students better learning opportunities and increase the proportion of families that choose government schools. But the success of the initiative is likely to depend on parallel investment in human resources, school teacher recruitment and sustained academic support in the long term.
