CM Shri project announced on Teachers’ Day: two model schools per district, smart classrooms, digital labs, sports excellence centres and teacher recruitment.
Two model schools in every district, sports centres in north Bengal and western region; assurance of teacher and non-teaching staff recruitment
By Qalam Times News Network
Kolkata | Saturday, September 5, 2026
CM Shri will be the centrepiece of the state government’s proposed effort to strengthen school education, Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari announced on Teachers’ Day, promising modern infrastructure, improved teaching standards and greater opportunities for students in both academics and sports.
Speaking at the Vidyasagar Shiksha Samman programme at the New Town Convention Centre on Saturday, Shuvendu said the state would introduce the CM Shri scheme on the lines of the Centre’s PM Shri initiative. The programme, he said, would select two schools in every district for special development and provide them with modern educational facilities and improved learning environments.
CM Shri initiative : From Modern Classrooms to Sporting Excellence
Under the CM Shri initiative, selected schools will receive upgraded teaching facilities, including smart classrooms and digital laboratories. The government also intends to introduce improved teaching methods and ensure that these institutions have highly qualified teachers.
The Chief Minister said the broader objective was to help students recover from what he described as a decline in academic performance over the past few years. According to him, teachers will have a central responsibility in helping students regain their academic strength and reach higher standards.
Shuvendu also announced the establishment of two Centres of Excellence in Sports, one in north Bengal and another in the western part of the state. The centres are expected to provide structured training and better sporting infrastructure for school students.
Recruitment of coaches, sports teachers and physical instructors for these centres will be carried out through the School Service Commission (SSC), he said.
“We want our students to be able to compete at the national and international levels,” the Chief Minister said, stressing the need to bring traditional sports back into schools. He specifically referred to Kho-Kho, Kabaddi and football, while also highlighting the importance of reviving the spirit of the Bratachari movement.
The Chief Minister also referred to a recent incident involving a student who was bitten by a snake at Kolkata’s Mitra Institution. He argued that such incidents highlighted the importance of basic maintenance and sanitation facilities in schools.
According to Shuvendu, schools have not received their composite grants for the past three years. Although the grants are relatively small, he said, schools depend on them for basic requirements, including the purchase of bleaching powder, carbolic acid and other materials needed for routine maintenance and sanitation.
He criticised the previous government over the alleged delay in releasing these funds and said the lack of financial support had prevented schools from carrying out several essential day-to-day activities.
Teacher and non-teaching staff recruitment also featured prominently in the Chief Minister’s Teachers’ Day address.
Shuvendu said schools require adequate personnel to function properly and assured that recruitment would be undertaken for both teaching and support positions. He said the government would fill posts ranging from teachers to employees responsible for routine duties such as ringing school bells and managing bicycle stands.
On the recruitment process, the Chief Minister said the government would follow the directions of both the Supreme Court and the Calcutta High Court. He assured candidates that the process would be conducted fairly.
“We will appoint teachers. Please remain assured,” Shuvendu said, adding that he had instructed the School Service Commission to ensure that no more than five marks are awarded in the viva voce.
The Chief Minister also reiterated that changes would be made to the school curriculum. He said the controversial “Tata-Bidatan” episode would be removed from students’ textbooks as part of the proposed curriculum revision.
The Teachers’ Day announcements therefore combined three major areas of focus—school infrastructure, recruitment and sports development—with the proposed CM Shri programme positioned as a key component of the government’s plan to create better-equipped and higher-performing schools across the state.
