As many as 933 government-aided schools in West Bengal have been shut after remaining without students for prolonged periods, prompting the state government to assess whether their infrastructure can be revived or put to alternative public use.

The School Education Department has directed district administrations to conduct a detailed assessment of these schools and submit recommendations on their future.

The exercise will focus on schools where enrolment has remained at zero for several years.

Some schools have had no students for 20 years

According to the School Education Department, the 933 schools include primary, upper-primary and secondary institutions that have not recorded student enrolment for extended periods.

Education Minister Deepak Barman said some of the institutions have remained without students for around five years, while others have had no enrolment for nearly two decades.

With the schools lying unused, their buildings, classrooms, playgrounds and land have also remained largely unutilised. The government now wants to establish the condition and availability of these assets before deciding on their future.

District magistrates to lead assessment

Under the department's directive, committees headed by the respective district magistrates will be formed to inspect the schools.

District education officers and district inspectors of schools will be part of these committees.

The teams will visit the institutions and conduct a physical assessment of the available infrastructure.

The inspection will cover school buildings, classrooms, playgrounds, land and other facilities.

The committees will also examine ownership records, availability of basic amenities and connectivity to determine whether the properties can be put to productive use.

The assessment will also distinguish between infrastructure that is lying completely unused and facilities that are being used partially.

Schools could be revived or repurposed

The government is examining more than one option for the unused properties.

Where there is a possibility of restoring student enrolment, authorities will assess whether the school can be reopened or restructured.

In areas where reopening may not be feasible, the infrastructure could potentially be converted into facilities serving other public purposes.

The options under consideration include training centres, health facilities, agricultural and rural development centres, community facilities and other government service centres.

Any such move will be considered in consultation with the departments concerned.

At the same time, district authorities have been instructed to ensure that children in the affected areas continue to have access to school education.

Districts asked to submit reports within 30 days

The district-level committees have been asked to compile detailed information on the schools and submit reports containing their recommendations.

The reports will indicate which institutions could potentially be revived and which properties may be suitable for alternative public use.

The state government will examine the recommendations before taking further decisions.

Barman said the exercise is aimed at preventing school buildings and land from remaining unused and deteriorating over time.

The minister has also clarified that there is currently no decision to transfer the properties entirely into private hands.