Education in India is not one-size-fits-all. West Bengal, while acknowledging NEP’s vision, chose its own path by introducing the State Education Policy (SEP) 2023. The policy is tailored to West Bengal’s unique framework. While it adopts selected ideas from the NEP, it rejects others and introduces fresh initiatives to suit the state’s context.
“Education is not the amount of information that is put into your brain and runs riot there, undigested, all your life. We must have life-building, man-making, character-making assimilation of ideas. If you have assimilated five ideas and made them your life and character, you have more education than any man who has got by heart a whole library.” Swami Vivekananda’s words resonate now more than ever, as India embarks on a journey to reshape learning for the 21st century.
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 set the stage for this transformation, envisioning an education system that nurtures creativity, critical thinking, and practical skills. But education in India is not one-size-fits-all. West Bengal, while acknowledging NEP’s vision, chose its own path by introducing the State Education Policy (SEP) 2023. Apart from West Bengal, a number of states, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka, have also chosen not to fully implement the NEP 2020. The State Education Policy is tailored to West Bengal’s unique framework. While it adopts selected ideas from the NEP, it rejects others and introduces fresh initiatives to suit the state’s context.
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At the heart of this change lies the school system itself. Unlike the National Education Policy’s (NEP) 5+3+3+4 framework, West Bengal has retained its traditional 5+4+2+2 structure, spanning pre-primary to higher secondary education. Within this familiar structure, however, the state has introduced new elements, such as a semester system for Classes XI and XII, designed to ease the transition from school to university.
The language policy reflects a similar balance between continuity and reform. Students in non-Bangla medium schools are now required to study Bangla as a subject from Class I to XII, ensuring that the state’s cultural identity remains central to education. At the same time, a flexible three-language formula for students in grades V to VIII allows them to learn in their mother tongue while also choosing additional languages.
For example, in Nepali-medium schools, Nepali will remain the medium of instruction, Santhali in Santhali-medium schools, and similarly for other linguistic mediums. Depending on the student’s preference, the second language may be English or any other language different from the first. In contrast, the third language can be freely chosen, thus striking a careful balance between preserving identity and expanding choice.
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But policy alone is not enough. The real change is happening inside classrooms. Traditional rote learning is giving way to interactive, hands-on experiences. Arts, sports, and play-based learning are no longer extra-curricular; they have become an integral part of the education system in Bengal. Smart classrooms, Wi-Fi-enabled labs, and STEM programs introduce students at the school level itself to coding, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Here, education is no longer confined to textbooks; it is a living, breathing experience.
The state’s vision extends beyond school walls. By 2030, West Bengal aims to achieve 100% literacy and numeracy among early-grade students, while expanding access to secondary and higher education. Half of all students finishing secondary school are expected to gain proficiency in at least one vocational skill, linking education to employability.
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In West Bengal’s 2025-2026 budget, a total of Rs 41,153.79 crore has been allocated to the school and higher education sector, according to the West Bengal Finance Department. The state government provides various scholarship schemes like Aiyashree, Shikshashree, and Medhashree, benefiting a large number, ensuring that financial barriers do not hinder ambition.
Teachers, too, are central to this transformation. Training programs equip them with modern pedagogical methods, technology integration, and interactive teaching strategies. With every child’s learning progress meticulously tracked, the system ensures that no student is left behind, laying the foundation for a lifetime of learning.
West Bengal’s journey is not merely about changing curricula; it is about changing the very experience of learning. From interactive classrooms and STEM labs to arts, sports, and vocational training, the state is creating a space where education builds character, creativity, and capability. In doing so, it brings to life Swami Vivekananda’s vision: an education that does not just fill minds, but shapes lives.
Shibabrata Chowdhury is a TRIP intern.
Mentored and Edited by Sneha Yadav.