The School Education Department of West Bengal has implemented a major overhaul in the governance of sponsored secondary schools. A formal directive issued from Bikash Bhawan on May 14, 2026 (Ref: 582-SE/S/5C-01/2026), mandates the immediate cancellation of all government-nominated positions for Presidents and “Persons Interested in Education” (PIE) in the Managing Committees of sponsored institutions.
This decision follows an administrative mandate from the Home and Hill Affairs Department dated May 11, 2026 (Memo No. 861-Home(Cons)/R1M(Cons)-40/2026). Consequently, the existing leadership structures across thousands of schools have effectively been dissolved, leaving top committee positions vacant.
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Legal Basis for the Cancellation
Previously, the government utilized Section 5, Sub-sections (i) and (iv) of the Rules for the Management of Sponsored Institution (Secondary), 1972, to appoint Presidents and PIE members. With this new directive, those nominations have been revoked, signaling a shift toward a transitional administrative phase while the government works on establishing new committee structures or appointing neutral administrators.
Urgent Appointment of DDOs
To ensure that school financial and administrative operations remain uninterrupted, the School Education Department has issued urgent instructions to all District Inspectors of Schools (Secondary Education). They are tasked with prioritizing the appointment of a Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO) for each affected school. While the responsibility typically falls to the Headmaster or Teacher-in-Charge, the department reserves the right to appoint other officials where necessary.
Practical Impact on School Employees
This transition introduces several immediate changes to daily school operations:
- Financial Authority: All salary bills and financial payments will now require the authorization of the newly appointed DDO.
- Administrative Decisions: Policy-making by the Managing Committee is effectively on hold until new guidelines or administrative committees are introduced.
- Service Records: Matters related to service books, GPF loans, and leave encashment are now strictly under the DDO’s jurisdiction.
Chandan Garai, State Secretary of the All Post Graduate Teachers Welfare Association, has welcomed the decision, noting that it will put an end to the practice of placing political figures in academic leadership roles. For employees, it is essential to coordinate with your Headmaster to confirm that the DDO appointment process has been completed at the district level to avoid any salary disbursement delays. Keep an eye on wbpay.in for further updates on the ground-level implementation of this order.
