Empty classrooms, dubious admissions: Murshidabad’s B.Ed college boom a cause for concern

BERHAMPORE, MURSHIDABAD: Tucked away in a narrow lane of Berhampore, the administrative headquarters of Murshidabad district, West Bengal, is Berhampore B.Ed College. On the early-September day when Careers360 visited, its four-storey building and wide grounds had more guards than students.

The classrooms Careers360 saw were spacious, had furniture and were empty; the lawns were likewise without any students. The principal explained that the campus was vacant because students were all away on exams. However, further inquiries among students and teachers of other teacher training colleges suggest otherwise. “Exams will start for the fourth-semester students in three days. Why are there no students in the classes now? Classes are on for other semesters,” said the principal of a government teachers training institute affiliated to and regulated by the same bodies.

On paper, the Berhampore B.Ed College is a private institution approved by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). It offers two programmes – B.Ed and D.El.Ed.

Murshidabad district is singularly rich in teacher-training institutions. West Bengal as a whole has 656 NCTE-recognised teacher training colleges. Of these, 110 – the most of any Bengal district – are in Murshidabad and most of these are private. To put this into perspective, Purba and Paschim Medinipur together are a distant second with 88, and Nadia has 54.

The colleges are affiliated to the Kolkata-based Baba Saheb Ambedkar Education University, which also awards the degrees. But most colleges also offer a Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) which is recognised by the West Bengal Board of Primary Education (WBBPE).

West Bengal B.Ed, D.El.Ed admissions

In teacher training colleges affiliated to the BSAEU, admission is through a common counselling process. Candidates apply online and the BSAEU assigns composite scores, computed from the marks obtained at the relevant educational levels – school, graduation, postgraduate studies and research. Next, a merit list is drawn up and seats are allotted.

This reporter went to several private colleges posing as a relative of an admission seeker, scouting for opportunities. Nearly everywhere it seemed possible to take admission bypassing the counselling system but the institutions also seemed suspicious of candidates from Kolkata, their officials recommending that the search be taken elsewhere.

The reporter was told she could “book” a seat for the next year, a practice completely forbidden by the approved admission policy.

The Berhampore college official, who said he taught life sciences, said that the student will be given admission and the seat needs to be secured by paying Rs 20,000. On a sheet of paper, he wrote out the details – some parts in Bangla – underlining the main points of the payment plan for emphasis. The fee is Rs 95,000 and another Rs 20,000 is charged for admission. Another Rs 6,400 for exams and Rs 1,000 for registration.

The same ruse was employed at Prabharani B.Ed College, another private Berhampore institution, set four kilometres away from Berhampore B.Ed College.

B.Ed Course: Out-of-state students but empty hostels

Berhampore has regular government-run teacher training institutions too, of course, and unlike their private counterparts, these were busy and classes were running when Careers360 visited.

Their teachers and principals have watched the proliferation of the B.Ed colleges in their district with growing concern.

“Students in most of the private teachers' training institutes in Murshidabad are from other adjoining states,” said a teacher from a public institution, asking not to be named. “The students are not required to attend regular classes and only come to college during exams.” They were echoed by other teachers and principals.

Another government college principal said that a large number of students are brought by ‘agents’ in Tripura, Assam and Odisha. “Agents bring students who pay hefty fees, and these students never actually attend classes," they said. "This practice, facilitated by agents, underscores a deeper systemic issue where education is treated as a mere financial transaction, eroding the integrity of teacher training."

What the teachers said about students not actually attending classes is shored up by what Caeers360 saw and was told at the colleges. Both colleges seemed to have hostels but neither said that a student could actually stay there. The Berhampore B.Ed College official said this was because the college was in a secluded area but promised to find the student a place to stay.

Also read No full-time Delhi DoE director since last year, educational reforms, teachers’ transfers stalled

Prabharani B.Ed College had the same stand. Hostels were available but had low occupancy; their official suggested going for a paying-guest accommodation.

A senior teacher of a government college said: "These private institutions admit students from other states. They study at home and only come for examination purposes. The college manages their attendance percentage."

NCTE, BSAEU checks

The principals and faculty members of government colleges are calling for stricter inspections and accountability to combat the growing corruption in the teacher training sector. "There should be dedicated inspection teams for each of the 23 districts. A mere show of buildings does not ensure quality education. The NCTE should implement more stringent checks and balances to curb these practices," one principal emphasised. Emails to the NCTE went unanswered. If they respond, this story will be updated to include their comments.

“Last year, the vice-chancellor of BSAEU boasted of closing down a number of colleges for not adhering to the NCTE guidelines,” said a teacher, adding, “How did she miss these colleges mushrooming in Murshidabad?”

Also read Thousands of Delhi government school teachers put on election duty despite approaching exams

Teachers said still more teacher training colleges are springing up in the Domkol subdivision of Murshidabad, occupying jute mills that have shut down. “Many of the colleges do not meet any acceptable standards, yet they are still allowed to run without any consequences,” they alleged.

NCTE-recognition complicates matters

Soma Bandyopadhyay, the vice-chancellor of BSAEU pointed out the challenges involved. “This year, many colleges claimed they were not getting affiliations but they completed all requirements after a court order. It is hard to keep track of all 600+ institutions, and we also lack the infrastructure for regular inspections. We have just started a biometric system for teachers and students in these training colleges,” said Bandyopadhyay.

Asked about students not attending classes, Bandyopadhyay expressed her helplessness saying, “Action can only be taken when someone raises a complaint with proof.”

“Many institutions move court claiming NCTE gave them recognition which complicates matters. Once the NCTE grants recognition to these colleges, it becomes difficult for us to deny them,” she continued. “Our question is, why are there so many teachers training colleges in one district and why does the state keep granting no objection certificates (NOCs).”

Education mafia

Bandyopadhyay also acknowledged that many of the institutions don’t have qualified teachers and the inspection processes are routinely gamed.

“Many institutions have no qualified teachers and in inspections, some teachers claim they do not want salaries,” she said, exasperated, “I am fighting this battle alone. The police and the administration seem to support these education mafias.”