West Bengal Shuts 933 Schools That Saw No Enrolment for Up to 20 Years

West Bengal has permanently closed 933 schools across the state after they recorded no student enrolment for periods ranging from five to 20 years, School Education Minister Dipak Barman has said.

The closed institutions include primary, upper-primary and secondary schools. Announcing the decision in a video message, Barman said the schools had drawn no students for between five and two decades, leaving their premises without regular upkeep.

"We have 933 schools in the state which had no enrolments of students in the past five to 20 years. Those schools have been shut," the minister said. "We have seen that the properties those schools have had are being damaged due to the lack of maintenance."

An order had earlier been issued to set up a committee to examine possible alternative uses for the buildings and properties of the closed schools. The minister has now ratified that order, confirming the closures.

The committee will assess the land, buildings and other assets attached to the schools. According to Barman, the government's initial plan is to transfer the land, grounds and other properties of the closed schools to the state.

"Primarily, we are planning to exchange those lands for international exchange. We will hand over the land to the government," he said.

The decision follows concern over the condition of school properties that have fallen into disuse because no students were attending them.