A recent development in West Bengal’s higher-education sector has created discussions among students and academic circles. According to a report published by The Times of India, the vice-chancellor of Jadavpur University, Chiranjib Bhattacharjee, was removed from his role as president of the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (HS Council). Around the same time, discussions emerged about the possibility of Jadavpur University withdrawing from the WBJEE admission system for engineering courses.
The removal of Bhattacharjee from the HS Council position was described by him as “unexpected” and “unfortunate.” The West Bengal education department appointed Partha Karmakar, a deputy secretary of the West Bengal Board of Primary Education, as the new president of the council. The change took place while the Higher Secondary examination process was still ongoing, which made the decision controversial in academic circles.
At the same time, officials from Jadavpur University hinted that the institution may consider conducting its own entrance examination for undergraduate engineering programs instead of admitting students through WBJEE. Currently, admissions to the university’s B.E. and B.Tech courses are conducted through the WBJEE exam, a system that has been in place since the board was established in 1962.
The proposal to exit the WBJEE system reportedly stems from concerns over delays in the admission process. According to university officials, classes for engineering courses often start late due to prolonged counselling and admission procedures. If the university conducts its own entrance examination, authorities believe it could allow them to start academic sessions on time and manage admissions more efficiently.
However, the proposal is still under discussion and has not yet been finalized. The matter is expected to be placed before the Executive Council of Jadavpur University, which will decide whether the institution should continue with the WBJEE system or adopt a separate admission process.
The issue has attracted attention because Jadavpur University is one of the top engineering institutions in India, particularly well known for its engineering and technology programs. Any change in its admission system could significantly affect students preparing for engineering entrance examinations in West Bengal.
In summary, the removal of the vice-chancellor from the HS Council and the discussion about withdrawing from the WBJEE system have sparked debate in the state’s education sector. While the final decision is yet to be made, the development could lead to major changes in engineering admissions in West Bengal if Jadavpur University decides to conduct its own entrance test.
