4 min readKolkataUpdated: Aug 2, 2026 08:22 PM IST
In the case of student-classroom ratio (SCR), the CAG noted that at both primary and upper primary levels, 12 per cent of schools had adverse SCR.
(File photo for representative use).
High dropout rates after secondary school, 520 schools without teachers, overcrowded classrooms and poor utilisation of funds have undermined the implementation of the Centre’s Samagra Shiksha scheme in West Bengal, according to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report.
Dropout rate
The performance audit, which examined implementation of the scheme between 2019-20 and 2023-24, found a 28%-42% transition loss between the upper primary and higher secondary levels, with financial hardship, early marriage, unwillingness to study, and migration for work emerging as the primary reasons students discontinued their education.
According to the audit, 53% of surveyed students who dropped out cited poverty or financial constraints. Another 14% said they were unwilling to continue studies, 13% migrated for work, while 12% discontinued education because of marriage.
Skewed Student-Teacher ratio, schools decreased
The report also highlighted severe teacher shortages across the state’s school system. It found that 520 schools had no teachers at all, affecting 8,596 students, while 5,152 schools were functioning with only one teacher, impacting over 1.76 lakh students. Meanwhile, 40,530 Head Teachers had been posted in schools having less than 150 students against Right To Education act norms.
The CAG said 29% of primary schools and 30% of upper primary schools failed to meet prescribed student-teacher ratio norms because of shortages of 31,684 and 2,058 teachers, respectively. At the higher secondary level, 79% of schools exceeded the prescribed teacher-student ratio.
School infrastructure was also found wanting. About 12% of primary and upper primary schools had adverse student-classroom ratios, while overcrowding affected 33% of secondary schools and 66% of higher secondary schools.
The audit noted that 284 Sishu Shiksha Kendras (SSKs) and 10 Madhyamik Shiksha Kendras (MSKs) had shut down between 2019-20 and 2023-24, largely because teachers retired or died without being replaced. Another 52 SSKs and MSKs in Bankura and Paschim Medinipur remained closed in 2024-25 for the same reason with no steps taken to reopen them. This raised the risk of students in these schools either being denied education or being forced to shift to other schools, which may be further away.
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The report also pointed to learning gaps between 10% and 13% of Class X students and 12% to 17% of Class XII students failed their board examinations during the audit period. Separate tests conducted by the audit found that 35% of students scored below 40% in key subjects, particularly Mathematics and Science.
School management committees, mandated to oversee school management and formulate and recommend the School Development Plan (SDP) were not formed in 35% to 84% of schools in the sampled districts.
Utilisation of Funds
The CAG also flagged underutilisation of funds. Expenditure under the Samagra Shiksha scheme ranged between 46% and 65% during 2019-24. Delays in civil works led to the surrender of Rs 395 crore, while implementation gaps resulted in a short receipt of Rs 2,428 crore under the scheme, restricting its scope.
Children with Special Needs (CwSN) deprived
The audit highlighted gaps in inclusive education as well. It found that 30% to 56% of Children with Special Needs (CwSN) were deprived of transport assistance, 35% to 49% did not receive escort allowances and 22% of eligible girls were not paid stipends in the sampled districts.
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Across the state, 15% of schools lacked ramps, 72% had no CwSN-friendly toilets, and there was a 95% shortage of special educators, with 33,835 vacancies. In some schools, resource rooms meant for children with disabilities were being used as storage spaces.
Samagra Shiksha Mission
The audit covered implementation of the Centre’s Samagra Shiksha scheme, which integrates school education from pre-primary to Class XII and is jointly funded by the Centre and the state. It assessed implementation in West Bengal for the period between 2019-20 and 2023-24.
Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain.
Experience
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express.
Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news.
Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions.
Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal.
Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla.
Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent.
Education
Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting.
Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University.
Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur.
Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More
