Suvendu Adhikari blames previous governments for West Bengal education crisis

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday accused the previous TMC and Left Front governments of destroying the education system in the state, and said the current BJP dispensation was undertaking reforms to restore Indian culture, traditions and nationalist values in school education.

Addressing a programme organised by Vivekananda Vidya Vikash Parishad, Adhikari alleged that the previous governments had altered the education system and curriculum in a manner that weakened the state's cultural heritage and national consciousness.

"It is the duty of a state government to help students, but the West Bengal school education curriculum and education system were in doldrums during the 34-year Communist regime and the 15-year TMC rule. The two successive governments have destroyed the state education system," he said.

Adhikari also alleged, "If the system had continued for some more time, there would have been no difference between the education system of West Bengal and the Islamic education system of Bangladesh," he said.

The chief minister claimed that the young generation was prevented from English education and computer learning in government-aided schools.

The chief minister flagged the teaching job scam in the state, saying that "it was the handiwork of the TMC", and asserted that the BJP will fix this institutional corruption.

Turning to the Jadavpur University graffiti issue, he said, "Slogans like 'Free Palestine' and 'Kashmir Mange Azadi' are still being written on the campus walls. Our government has advocated a 'zero tolerance' approach to the works of anti-nationals."