Bengal’s skill education teachers unpaid for 4 months, over 3,000 affected

Teachers associated with the Vocationalization of School Education (CSS-VSE-NSQF) programme have raised serious concerns over prolonged financial and administrative issues, alleging government apathy.

Across the country, skill-based subjects are taught from Classes 9 to 12 under a uniform curriculum launched in 2013 across several states and Union Territories, including West Bengal, with the aim of creating skilled manpower. However, in West Bengal, teachers under the CSS-VSE-NSQF scheme claim they have not received their salaries for the past four months. They also point out that the monthly allowance of ₹20,000 fixed at the time of their appointment 13 years ago has not been revised since.

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The skill education programme is currently implemented in 1,611 higher secondary schools across the state, with around 3,000 teachers engaged in 16 subjects at the secondary and higher secondary levels. Each school is expected to have two such teachers, appointed as per NCERT and state government guidelines.

While these subjects are treated as additional papers at the secondary level, they are considered compulsory electives in higher secondary. Teachers reportedly receive payments only once every four to six months.

Prasunkali Bhaumik of Jadavpur Vidyapith said, “With deductions for Provident Fund and ESI from this allowance, I currently receive ₹15,000 in hand. Even before Eid on Saturday, many Muslim teachers are being deprived of allowances.”

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Nirupam Kole, General Secretary of the United WB NSQF Teachers Association, said, “According to the National Education Policy, this Vocationalization of School Education is key to creating ‘Skill India’ in the future. But the state government is conducting this course through the Technical Education Department instead of the School Education Department.”

He further alleged that the current system is affecting students as well. “Students are being deprived of government textbooks and various services. Although ₹5 lakh is allocated per lab in each school, it is not spent. Students are also deprived of stationery, industrial visits, guest lectures and on-the-job training. They are forced to rely only on teachers’ notes for examinations, without any practical exposure.”