Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched a scathing attack on the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government during a teachers’ conference in Kolkata yesterday, accusing the state administration of betraying educators. 

 

He alleged that the education sector has suffered the most under TMC rule, highlighting that qualified candidates are being forced to protest on the streets or seek legal recourse while those close to the ruling party have secured teaching positions.

 

The Minister further claimed that nearly 4,000 schools in West Bengal are currently without teachers, asserting that the state accounts for half of all teacher-less schools across the country. 

 

He criticised the state government for its refusal to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and for allegedly blocking the expansion of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Atal Tinkering Labs, and Navodaya Vidyalayas by failing to provide the required land.

 

Attributing ongoing legal disputes regarding TET (Teacher Eligibility Test) examinations to the faulty policies of previous administrations, Mr Pradhan promised that a BJP-led government in Bengal would prioritise resolving the issues faced by affected teachers.

 

He called for a change in leadership to restore the state’s educational standards.