West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education Board

What are the functions and the duties which are performed by West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education Board?

[Priyanka Goyal]

The Government of West Bengal has established the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education, under West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education, Act 1975. The council is the main body which looks after the education system in the 10+2. The council has its main office at Salt Lake, Bidhannagar, Korunamoyee, Kolkata along with 4 regional offices.

It is the duty of the Council to recommend the State Government on all matters relating to Higher Secondary Education referred to it by the State Government. The Council has the authority to direct, supervise and control the Higher Secondary Education in the State.

The major functions of the Council are to :

1. assess at regular intervals the Educational needs at higher secondary level at the state and lay down the General policy for the development of the Higher Secondary Education;
2. To provide for inspection of Recognised Institutions;
3. To provide by regulations, the curriculum, syllabus, the courses of studies to be followed and the books to be studied in Recognised Institutions;
4. To undertake the preparation, publication and sale of Text Books and other books for use in the Recognized Institutions;
5. institute Higher Secondary Examination for the purposes of the Act;
6. and to make public results of examination instituted by the Council and to award certificates and scholarship thereof;
The Higher Secondary Course shall comprise of two parts, i.e. Class XI and Class XII. The curriculum of Higher Secondary Course shall comprise of
a. Two language subjects one each from Group 'A' and Group 'B' of Schedule II
b. Three compulsory elective subjects, one each to be chosen from any group
c. One optional elective subject to be chosen from the groups remaining after the selection of compulsory elective subject.

After completing secondary school examination, students then enroll for 2 years in Higher Secondary Institutions. Upon finishing the required coursework, students may enroll in general or professional degree programmes.