The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) has stated that all state-run and state-aided schools will introduce a semester system for classes 11 and 12 beginning with the current academic session (2024-25) and 2025-26, respectively.
In a note issued on April 18, WBCHSE President Chiranjib Bhattacharya mentioned the council's establishment of a semester system. The announcement adds that board exams will be held after completing semesters 3 and 4. The message is sent to all school principals and instructors about the new system.
According to the notice, the revised system will divide the entire higher secondary or 10+2 education into four parts: semester 1, semester 2, semester 3, and semester 4, with class 11 divided into semesters 1 and 2, and class 12 redesigned as semesters 3 and 4 beginning in the academic year 2024-25 and 2025-26, respectively.
This modification is consistent with the new state education policy that was announced in August. The policy promotes schools to offer students chances and advice for participating in demanding courses, extracurricular activities, and summer projects with higher education institutions.
The policy also suggests internship options during summer breaks, enabling students to pursue their interests through partnership with corporations, publishing companies, and media outlets.
It's worth noting that the new education policy preserves the current school structure of 4+4+2+2. This means that children will spend four years in the foundation stage, another four years in upper primary (preparatory stage), and two years in secondary school (classes 9 and 10).
