The Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIM Calcutta) has collaborated with Paschim Banga Samagra Shiksha Mission (PBSSM), government of West Bengal to impart leadership training for 1,300 head of schools of government and aided schools in several batches.
An initiative of the School Education Department, the ‘Leadership Development Programme’ is a proactive step taken by the West Bengal government towards focused intervention in 13,00 schools in the State for a better outcome.
Inaugurating the first batch of the programme, Prof Uttam Kumar Sarkar, Director of IIM Calcutta, appreciated the State’s school education department for identifying and taking the lead in focussed intervention in primary education.
‘Timely step’
“This is a timely and necessary step in the right direction. IIM Calcutta, which is celebrating her Diamond Jubilee, is honoured to join hands with West Bengal Government for national building and striving towards achieving the global sustainable development goal and West Bengal’s mission for universal education,” he said in a press statement.
Bratya Basu, Minister-in-Charge, Department of School Education, West Bengal and Manish Jain, IAS, State Project Director, PBSSM were present at the inauguration.
According to Prof R Rajesh Babu, joint programme director, the role of the head mistress and head masters in realising the goal of the fundamental right to education is paramount. Their role is critical in transforming the life and experience of their students, fellow teachers, and the community. Empowering and motivating the head of schools to take the lead and be the change agent for their school would be the key focus of this leadership development programme.
The leadership development programme is scheduled to be organised in small batches in December 2021 and January 2022.