Page 17 - EW May 2020 for Flipbuilder

However, UGC spokespersons level. This generated a
stress that the guidelines are advi- major Centre-state proto-
sory and universities have the auton col row as according to Ba-
omy to adjust them to local condi- nerjee, prior intimation of
tions. “In view of the location and the IMCT visit should have
diversity of universities and colleges, been given to the state gov-
their level of preparedness, residen- ernment. However, after
tial status of the students, status of a state government order
the Covid-19 pandemic spread in confining the IMCT team
different regions/states and other to its hotel, it was allowed
factors, the universities, after making to conduct a four-day in-
a comprehensive assessment of all vestigation.
such factors may chart out a-plan With the Union ministry
for examinations and the academic of home affairs under BJP’s
calendar, to deal with any sort of Banerjee: evident jitters master election strategist
exigency,” writes UGC secretary, A m it S h a h closely moni-
R a j e s h J a in , in a covering letter of the state, placing the entire popula- toring West Bengal (which goes to
the guidelines. tion of Bengal at risk. In particular, the polls next summer) following the
Delhi-based monitors of India’s the BJP accuses the state government IMCT report, chief minister Baner-
chaotic education scenario are of “not conducting sufficient testing in jee is evidently jittery. The TMC has
pleasantly surprised by the creative West Bengal against the national aver- roped in the widely reputed P ra s h a n t
and constructive response of the age of 198 per million,” alleges B a b u l K is h or, also a master election strate-
usually ponderous bureaucracies of S u p riy o, minister of state for envi- gist who formerly worked with the BJP
the school exam boards and UGC in ronment, forest and climate change in and Congress, to take charge of TMC’s
particular. The situation may yet be the Union government at the Centre. social media platform to counter the
saved. Moreover, BJP state president D il ip BJP’s anti-TMC campaign.
Autar Nehru (Delhi) G h os h accuses Mamata Banerjee ince then, apart from highlighting
and her government of suppressing Sthe relative success of the TMC in
WEST BENGAL Covid-19 positive cases and fatalities fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, the
Beneficial fallout and misusing the public distribution state government is also advertising
system (PBS) to support TMC sym-
initiatives taken to ensure continua-
pathisers and supporters. tion of classes in K-12 education. Un-
N MARCH, WEST BENGAL CHIEF minister Banerjee’s discomfiture has been like several state governments which
M a m a ta B a n e rj e e was riding a exacerbated with some government have generated controversy by direct-
Iwave of popularity for her deft doctors and health workers alleging ing private schools to refrain from
management of the Covid-19 pan- that they are being forced to fight the collecting school fees, in an April 25
demic sweeping the country, which Covid-19 pandemic without adequate message to West Bengal’s 1,200 pri-
has provoked a national lockdown PPE (personal protection equipment) vate schools, education minister P a r-
of business and leisure activity from including masks and gloves, and to th a C h a tte rj e e restricted himself
March 25 to May 16. On April 28, certify Covid deaths as other causes. to advising them not to raise tuition
West Bengal reported a mere 649 Co- Reacting to these allegations, Baner- fees this year and to switch to online
vid positive cases, 105 cured and 20 jee has constituted a five-member classes. Moreover, to ensure continu-
fatalities against 33,050, 8,325 and committee of reportedly TMC-friendly ity of education in the state’s 95,000
1,074 nationally. Inevitably, these rosy bureaucrats and doctors, to endorse government schools, the TMC gov-
— perhaps too rosy — statistics have the state government’s Covid-19 data ernment has tied up with the Anand
generated a political storm in the state and refute poor working conditions Bazar Patrika (ABP) Group to beam
with a population of 91 million. allegations. live lectures for classes X and XII stu-
The BJP, which has latterly Sensing a political opportunity, dents through its ABP Ananda televi-
emerged as the main opposition par- West Bengal’s governor J a g de e p sion channel, to prepare them for their
ty of West Bengal, has orchestrated D h a n k h a r, a hand-picked, selected board exams next year.
a massive social media campaign al- appointee of the BJP government at Comments K ris h n a k ol i R a y ,
leging that the ruling Trinamool Con- the Centre, reportedly invited an in- headmistress of Jaynagar Institution
gress (TMC) government has allowed ter-ministerial central team (IMCT) for Girls, a state government-aided
dilution of lockdown and quarantine to assess the state government’s man- school on the outskirts of Kolkata:
norms in Muslim-dominated areas of agement of the pandemic at ground “This is an excellent initiative by the

MAY 2020 EDUCATIONWORLD 17