Under new Bengal project, government schools to share resources

Under this initiative called `Hub of Learning’, eight to 10 schools would be mapped together, one of them serving as the ‘hub’ and the remaining as ‘spoke’ schools

West Bengal has introduced a unique programme under which government schools in every neighbourhood would be bunched together for sharing of resources and collaborative learning.

Under this initiative called `Hub of Learning’, which is being implemented in Kolkata to begin with, eight to 10 schools would be mapped together, one of them serving as the ‘hub’ and the remaining as ‘spoke’ schools.

An order regarding this was issued earlier this month and the system will be in place when the schools reopen next month after the summer vacation.

“It’s a wonderful initiative which hopefully, will maximise the scope of resource-sharing among schools. Schools in a neighbourhood will have access to infrastructural benefits in educational institutions other than their own,” said Krishnakoli Ray, headmistress of Dhakuria Sree Ramakrishna Vidyapith for Girls in Kolkata.

“For example, if one school lacks a computer lab, students may go to another one nearby to take lessons in the subject. This will ensure resource optimisation within the hub or cluster so that the government need not create individual facilities for everything,” she added.

“If implemented properly, this could resolve many issues pertaining to lack of infrastructure in schools. While the institutions would benefit from sharing teachers, labs, etc., it will be an exciting adventure for students, where they would be able to visit other schools and learn from other teachers,” said Ms. Ray, whose institution, along with nine others, will have the Kasba Girls’ High School as their ‘hub’ schools.

According to the State government, while the ‘hub’ schools would be poised for leadership under this set up, there may be certain instances under which they too, could benefit from the practices being adopted in the ‘spoke’ schools.