West Bengal announces major school curriculum overhaul; committee to align syllabus with NEP 2020

The West Bengal School Education Department has constituted a syllabus-cum-curriculum committee to review and modernise the curriculum, syllabus and textbooks for Classes 1 to 12 in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCF-FS) 2022, and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023, says an official notification.

The notification issued on July 24, 2026, states that the committee constituted by the School Education Department, Government of West Bengal, will examine the existing school education framework and recommend reforms to improve learning outcomes and teaching practices. The committee may sit in the office of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education.

According to the notification, no immediate changes have been announced for students. The committee will review the existing school education system and submit its recommendations before any new curriculum, textbooks, or exam reforms are introduced.

The committee will review the curriculum, syllabus and textbooks for primary, secondary and higher secondary classes to ensure they meet modern teaching standards.

Committee to review exams, teacher training

Besides updating the curriculum in line with NEP 2020, the committee will also review the state's exam and assessment system. The panel will also recommend teaching methods that focus on understanding concepts, asking questions, and developing thinking skills instead of memorising answers and relying only on notes.

Another key focus area for the committee will be to look at ways to reduce the dependence of students on private tuition by improving classroom teaching. It will review teacher training programmes and suggest better teaching methods that make learning more interactive and student-focused.

As per the notification, "The committee will submit its preliminary report within two months of its first meeting and the final report within the following three months after considering stakeholders' feedback".

Government officials on the committee will receive administrative support, while non-official members will be paid an honorarium of Rs 10,000 for their work. The committee's activities will be funded through the Project Management Fund under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).