Bengal forms education panel for future initiatives

The West Bengal higher education department has constituted an education commission for preparing a road map to improve the state's education sector over the next two decades.

The 12-member panel, comprising eminent teachers and scientists, was formally launched Oct 1 and will start functioning once the festive season ends (after Diwali).

Headed by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research director general Samir K. Brahmachari, the panel includes river expert Kalyan Rudra, Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta former director Amitava Bose and Shantanu Maharaj of the Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math.

The forum has been formed in line with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's 'Vision 2020 and 2030' education road map that will "take the state towards educational glory".

"The commission will highlight the areas that need improvement and also provide solutions. We will start work after the logistics have been taken care of and the festive season is over," Rudra told IANS.

The activities of the panel will encompass elementary, secondary, higher secondary, higher education, mass education, technical and vocational education, non-formal education and madrassa education of the state.

The commission would submit an interim report within six months of its first sitting and the final report in an year.