WBCHSE HS Enrollment: WBCHSE Reopens HS Enrollment Portal with Late Fine Last Chance for Admit Cards
WBCHSE HS Enrollment: Significant news has emerged for Higher Secondary (HS) candidates in West Bengal. Just seven days before the commencement of the examinations, the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) has decided to provide a final opportunity for students who have not yet completed their enrollment process to obtain admit cards. However, this last-minute relief comes with a substantial financial penalty, sparking debate within the education community.
Portal Reopening: The Final Window
In a recent notification, the Council announced that the ‘Enrollment’ portal is being reopened for three days based on appeals from students, guardians, and school authorities. It is crucial to note that this facility is strictly available for those students who had successfully completed their registration in Class XI but failed to finalize the ‘enrollment’ required for the issuance of HS admit cards.
The Controversy Over Late Fines
The focal point of the discussion is the heavy penalty imposed for this late enrollment. According to the Council’s directive, schools registering students at this eleventh hour must pay a fine of ₹2,000 per student. This decision has drawn sharp criticism from various teachers’ associations.
Swapan Mandal, General Secretary of the Bangiya Shikshak O Shikshakormi Samiti, criticized the move, suggesting that the government appears to be generating revenue from people’s distress. He argued, “If the Council genuinely intended to help the students, this opportunity could have been provided at a much lower cost.” Similarly, Manoj Kumar Mandal, State President of the All Post Graduate Teachers Welfare Association, pointed out that schools had repeatedly issued notices which were ignored by negligent students. He expressed concern that collecting such a high “late fine” might lead parents to wrongly believe that schools are profiting from the situation.
Council’s Stance and Statistical Overview
Defending the decision, WBCHSE President Chiranjeeb Bhattacharya clarified that collecting fines is not the Council’s objective. He stated, “Our aim is to ensure the process is completed within a specific timeframe and discipline. However, we want to ensure that not a single student is deprived of sitting for the exam.” He acknowledged that while there has been negligence on the part of some schools, non-cooperation from students has also been a significant factor.
According to Council data, approximately 6.4 lakh candidates have already completed their enrollment for admit cards. Yet, several schools have reported pending cases. Notably, a similar measure was taken for the Madhyamik examination last month, where the portal was reopened for a day, allowing 1,966 candidates to register at the last minute. The Council hopes that all remaining HS candidates will utilize this specific window to regularize their status and appear for the upcoming exams without further hurdles.
