Don't yield to unrealistic demands: Govt to edu institutions

The West Bengal government today said it would not compromise on indiscipline in educational institutions and asked institutional heads not to give in to "unrealistic demands" by anyone.
"We are not going to compromise on indiscipline. There must not be any indiscipline by anybody... Be it non-teaching staff or the students or their unions. It must be done in a democratic way," School and Higher Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said.
He appealed to all head of institutions not to yield to any unrealistic demand made by any front," Chatterjee said while addressing at a programme organised by the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce today.

Stressing that everybody should respect teachers, Chatterjee said, "You do not have right to lock him or her to get your demands settled."
Heads of various educational institutions have been gheraoed by students in the state in the recent past.
Chatterjee said the state government was giving "more thrust to attendance" of both students and teachers and thus biometric or similar system of attendance were introduced.

"We are asking for 75 per cent of attendance for the students and they are asking for 75 per cent of classes to be taught by the teachers. I got reports that teachers are not attending classes they are alloted to," he said stressing on identification of the teachers' presence.

On admission, he said, it will be done online on the basis of merit. "There will be no pressure from inside or outside. If you have excess seats it will come last for open counselling," he said.
There have been allegation that student unions put pressure on college authorities to admit some students.
Stating that one cannot have good students in higher education unless there is good elementary school, Chatterjee said the state government is setting up a committee to "suggest a syllabus taking into consideration the industry".
"We have taken steps to achieve excellence and employability. Syllabus of Madhyamik (class X) and Higher Secondary have been changed. We are updating the syllabus in a fashion so that we can compete in other parts of the country," Chatterjee, also Parliamentary Affairs Minister, said.

He said talents should be retained in the state and the rate of return of local students studying abroad has increased as the academic environment has improved in the state.