WB announces contemporary courses for higher secondary students from next session

Higher Secondary students in West Bengal will soon have the option to study a set of contemporary and project-driven subjects as the state moves to update its curriculum from the upcoming academic session.

A senior official confirmed on Feb 27 that the initiative is intended to strengthen student engagement and connect classroom learning with emerging academic and career pathways.

West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education president Chiranjib Bhattacharrya said the reform is part of a broader effort to modernize the system.

He said that several subjects introduced over the past three years will now be placed under Council-Assisted Courses, with the Council conducting structured online classes for students outside regular school hours.

Subjects to be brought under this category include Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Applied Artificial Intelligence, and Cyber Security.

“In addition, the Council will introduce a separate set of project-based offerings under Council Taught Courses, where it will directly supervise instruction. These courses will largely be delivered online, though offline classes may be organized district-wise if necessary,” Bhattacharrya said.

The proposed subjects under Council Taught Courses include Entrepreneurship and Related Legal Rights, Intellectual Property Rights and Laws, Indology, and Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship.

Schools interested in offering these subjects will be required to apply in accordance with prescribed eligibility norms. The Council will create and maintain a centralized database of enrolled students and their chosen subjects.

Teaching will be conducted by qualified subject experts through digital platforms, combining live interactive sessions with recorded lectures.

Explaining the objective behind the changes, Bhattacharrya said the move is aimed at making the Higher Secondary curriculum more aligned with current academic trends and professional demands.

"These subjects, to be introduced in the next academic session, are contemporary and interdisciplinary in nature. They are expected to generate greater interest among students and equip them with knowledge and skills that are increasingly important in today's world," he said.

He added that detailed operational guidelines and the complete framework for implementation will be released shortly through an official notification.