West Bengal failing to retain literacy success rate

West Bengal government today admitted that it was unable to retain the success of 99 per cent literacy rate in primary education level and said a strong base has to be built for it.

"Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has appreciated that 99 per cent of students have been attending classes at primary level in our state, but we are not able to retain the success," Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said. Stressing for spread of education at primary level with arrangement for midday meals, Bhattacharjee said, "We have to build a strong base for primary education in West Bengal to retain the success which will lead to the achievement of total literacy for the state." He also asked for suggestions by West Bengal Board of Secondary Education on how poor students could be provided free coaching to compete with others.

Expressing concern for those not faring well at Madhyamik (matriculation) level, he said "We have to give more stress on vocational training to help them out in their career." Bhattacharjee was speaking at the inauguration of 'Nivedita Bhavan' of the Board.