Editing West Bengal (section)

== Education ==
{{Main|Education in West Bengal|Universities and colleges of West Bengal|List of institutions of higher education in West Bengal|List of schools in West Bengal}}
<gallery mode="packed" style="font-size:88%; line-height:130%; border-bottom:1px #aaa solid;" heights="150">
University of Calcutta 7383.JPG|[[University of Calcutta]], the oldest public university of India
West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata (front entrance, 2006).jpg|The front entrance to the academic block of NUJS, Kolkata
RKMVERI Prajna Bhavan HR.jpg|Prajna Bhavan, housing the School of Mathematical Sciences and School of RKMVU
</gallery>
West Bengal schools are run by the state government or private organisations, including religious institutions. Instruction is mainly in English or Bengali, though [[Urdu]] is also used, especially in Central Kolkata. Secondary schools are affiliated with the [[Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations]] (CISCE), the [[Central Board of Secondary Education|Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE)]], the [[National Institute of Open Schooling|National Institute of Open School (NIOS)]], [[West Bengal Board of Secondary Education]], or the [[West Bengal Board of Madrasah Education]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mhrd.gov.in/recognized_boards |title=Boards of secondary & senior secondary education in India |publisher=Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India |access-date = 18 April 2012 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120320234548/http://mhrd.gov.in/recognized_boards |archive-date = 20 March 2012}}</ref>

As of 2016 85% of children within the 6 to 17-year age group attend school (86% do so in urban areas and 84% in rural areas). School attendance is almost
universal among the 6 to 14-year age group then drops to 70% with the 15 to 17-year age group. There is a gender disparity in school attendance in the 6 to 14-year age group, more girls than boys are attending school.
In Bengal, 71% of women aged 15–49 years and 81% of men aged 15–49 years are literate. Only 14% of women aged 15–49 years in West Bengal have completed 12 or more years of schooling, compared with 22% of men. 22% of women and 14% of men aged 15–49 years have never attended school.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rchiips.org/NFHS/factsheet_NFHS-4.shtml |title=National Family Health Survey |website=rchiips.org|access-date=30 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129010243/http://rchiips.org/NFHS/factsheet_NFHS-4.shtml|archive-date=29 January 2018|url-status=live}}(Select West Bengal to view the pdf format)</ref>

{{multiple image
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 |image1 =
 |width1 = 300
 |alt1 = St. Paul's School, Darjeeling
 |caption1 = [[St. Paul's School, Darjeeling]], the oldest and highest British public school in Asia
 |image2 = St Josephs College, North Point, Darjeeling.jpg
 |width2 = 254
 |alt2 = St. Joseph's School, Darjeeling
 |caption2  = [[St. Joseph's School, Darjeeling]]
}}
Some of the notable schools in the city are: [[Ramakrishna Mission Narendrapur]], [[Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama High School|Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission]], [[Sister Nivedita Girls' School]], [[Hindu School]], [[Hare School]], [[La Martiniere Calcutta]], [[Calcutta Boys' School]], [[St. James' School (Kolkata)]], [[South Point School]], [[Techno India Group Public School]], [[St. Xavier's Collegiate School]], and [[Loreto House]], [[Loreto Convent, Asansol|Loreto Convent]], Pearl Rosary School are some of which rank among the best schools in the country.<ref>{{cite web |title=India's Best Schools, 2014 |url=http://www.rediff.com/getahead/report/career-indias-best-schools-of-2014/20140922.htm |website=Rediff.com |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150722053415/http://www.rediff.com/getahead/report/career-indias-best-schools-of-2014/20140922.htm |archive-date = 22 July 2015}}</ref> Many of the schools in Kolkata and Darjeeling are colonial-era establishments housed in buildings that are exemplars of neo-classical architecture. Darjeeling's schools include: [[St. Paul's School, Darjeeling|St. Paul's]], [[St. Joseph's School, Darjeeling|St. Joseph's]] North Point, [[Goethals Memorial School]], and Dow Hill in [[Kurseong]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://darjeeling.gov.in/edu-institute.html |title=Educational Institute |website=darjeeling.gov.in|access-date=4 January 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706130708/http://darjeeling.gov.in/edu-institute.html|archive-date=6 July 2017}}</ref>

West Bengal has eighteen universities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.educationobserver.com/resources/universsities/west_bengal.htm |title=UGC recognised Universities in West Bengal with NAAC accreditation status |access-date = 26 October 2006 |publisher=Education Observer |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070109172830/http://www.educationobserver.com/resources/universsities/west_bengal.htm |archive-date = 9 January 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thewbuhs.org/ |title=West Bengal University of Health Sciences |access-date = 26 October 2006 |publisher=[[West Bengal University of Health Sciences]] |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061221061019/http://www.thewbuhs.org/ |archive-date = 21 December 2006}}</ref> Kolkata has played a pioneering role in the development of the modern education system in India. It was the gateway to the revolution of European education during the British Raj.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DsXLDAAAQBAJ&q=role+of+kolkata+in+education+in+india&pg=PA29 |title=Language Policy and Education in India: Documents, Contexts and Debates |last1=Sridhar |first1=M. |last2=Mishra |first2=Sunita |date=5 August 2016 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-1-134-87824-6 |language=en |access-date=21 October 2020 |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202001209/https://books.google.com/books?id=DsXLDAAAQBAJ&q=role+of+kolkata+in+education+in+india&pg=PA29 |url-status=live}}</ref> Sir [[William Jones (philologist)|William Jones]] established the [[Asiatic Society]] in 1794 to promote oriental studies. People such as [[Ram Mohan Roy]], [[David Hare (philanthropist)|David Hare]], [[Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar]], [[Alexander Duff (missionary)|Alexander Duff]] and [[William Carey (missionary)|William Carey]] played leading roles in setting up modern schools and colleges in the city.<ref name="Chakrabarti-2013" />

The [[University of Calcutta]], the oldest and one of the most prestigious public universities in India, has 136 affiliated colleges. [[Fort William College]] was established in 1810. The Hindu College was established in 1817. The [[Lady Brabourne College]] was established in 1939. The [[Scottish Church College]], the oldest Christian liberal arts college in South Asia, started in 1830. The [[Vidyasagar College]] was established in 1872 and was the first purely Indian-run private college in [[India]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vidyasagarcollege.edu.in/history-glory-evolution |title=History, Glory & Evolution |access-date = 1 March 2020 |publisher=[[Vidyasagar College]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200301131540/http://www.vidyasagarcollege.edu.in/history-glory-evolution |archive-date = 1 March 2020 |url-status = live }}</ref> In 1855 the Hindu College was renamed the Presidency College.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.caluniv.ac.in/coll.htm |title=List of Affiliated Colleges |access-date = 29 March 2008 |publisher=[[University of Calcutta]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080201164051/http://www.caluniv.ac.in/coll.htm |archive-date = 1 February 2008}}</ref> The state government granted it university status in 2010 and it was renamed [[Presidency University, Kolkata|Presidency University]]. [[Kazi Nazrul University]] was established in 2012. The University of Calcutta and [[Jadavpur University]] are prestigious technical universities.<ref>{{cite news |first=P |last=Mitra |title=Waning interest |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050831/asp/careergraph/story_5174502.asp |work=Careergraph |publisher=[[The Telegraph (Kolkata)|The Telegraph]] |date=31 August 2005 |access-date = 26 October 2006 |location=Calcutta, India |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070105111639/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050831/asp/careergraph/story_5174502.asp |archive-date = 5 January 2007}}</ref> [[Visva-Bharati University]] at [[Santiniketan]] is a central university and an institution of national importance.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visva-bharati.ac.in/at_a_glance/at_a_glance.htm |title=Visva-Bharati: Facts and Figures at a Glance |access-date = 31 March 2007 |publisher=Visva-Bharati Computer Centre |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070523132100/http://www.visva-bharati.ac.in/at_a_glance/at_a_glance.htm |archive-date = 23 May 2007}}</ref>
{{multiple image
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 |width1 = 290
 |alt1 = IIT Kharagpur
 |caption1 = [[IIT Kharagpur]], the first IIT of India
 |image2 = IIM Calcutta Auditorium 1.jpg
 |width2 = 210
 |alt2 =Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
 |caption2  = The Auditorium at [[Indian Institute of Management Calcutta]]
}}
Other higher education institutes of importance in West Bengal include: [[St. Xavier's College, Kolkata]], [[Indian Institute of Foreign Trade]], [[Indian Institute of Management Calcutta]] (the first [[Indian Institutes of Management|IIM]]), [[Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata]], [[Indian Statistical Institute]], [[Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur]] (the first [[Indian Institutes of Technology|IIT]]), [[Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur]] (the first [[Indian Institutes of Engineering Science and Technology|IIEST]]), [[Indian Institute of Information Technology, Kalyani]], [[Medical College, Kolkata]], [[National Institute of Technology, Durgapur]], [[National Institute of Technical Teachers' Training and Research, Kolkata]], [[National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kolkata]], and [[West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences]]. In 2003 the state government supported the creation of [[West Bengal University of Technology]], [[West Bengal University of Health Sciences]], [[West Bengal State University]], and [[Gour Banga University]].<ref name="Naac">{{cite web |url=http://www.naac.gov.in/docs/Analysis-West_Bengal.pdf |title=NAAC accredited higher educational institution s in West Bengal |last=NAAC |website=www.naac.gov.in|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712185317/http://www.naac.gov.in/docs/Analysis-West_Bengal.pdf|archive-date=12 July 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=7 January 2018}}</ref>

Jadavpur University (Focus area—Mobile Computing and Communication and Nano-science), and the University of Calcutta (Modern Biology) are among two of the fifteen universities selected under the "University with Potential for Excellence" scheme. University of Calcutta (Focus Area—Electro-Physiological and Neuro-imaging studies including mathematical modelling) has also been selected under the "Centre with Potential for Excellence in a Particular Area" scheme.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ugc.ac.in/page/Centres-(CPEPA).aspx |title=University Grants commission ::Centre with Potential for Excellence in Particular Area |work=ugc.ac.in |access-date = 25 July 2016 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160801082819/http://www.ugc.ac.in/page/Centres-%28CPEPA%29.aspx |archive-date = 1 August 2016}}</ref>

In addition, the state is home to [[Kalyani University]], [[The University of Burdwan]], [[Vidyasagar University]], and [[North Bengal University]] all well established and nationally renowned schools that cover education needs at the district level and the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata. Apart from this there is a Deemed university run by the Ramakrishna mission named [[Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University]] at Belur Math.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ugc.ac.in/stateuniversitylist.aspx?id=35&Unitype=2 |title=University |website=www.ugc.ac.in|access-date=4 January 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913232358/http://www.ugc.ac.in/stateuniversitylist.aspx?id=35&Unitype=2|archive-date=13 September 2017}}</ref>

There are several research institutes in Kolkata. The [[Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science]] is the first research institute in Asia. [[C. V. Raman]] was awarded the Nobel Prize for his discovery (Raman Effect) done at the IACS. The [[Bose Institute]], [[Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics]], [[S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences]], [[Indian Institute of Chemical Biology]], [[Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute]], [[Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute]] Durgapur, [[Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibers]], [[National Institute of Research on Jute and Allied Fibre Technology]], [[Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute]], [[National Institute of Biomedical Genomics]] (NIBMG), Kalyani, and the [[Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre]] are the most prominent.<ref name="Naac" />

Notable scholars who were born, worked, or studied in the geographic area of the state include physicists: [[Satyendra Nath Bose]], [[Meghnad Saha]],<ref name=calunivalumni>{{cite web |url=http://www.caluniv.ac.in/About%20the%20university/Some%20of%20the%20Alumni.htm |title=Some of the distinguished alumni of the University of Calcutta |publisher=[[University of Calcutta]] |access-date = 29 January 2012 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111121002631/http://caluniv.ac.in/About%20the%20university/Some%20of%20the%20Alumni.htm |archive-date = 21 November 2011}}</ref> and [[Jagadish Chandra Bose]];<ref name=calunivteachers>{{cite web |url=http://www.caluniv.ac.in/About%20the%20university/Distinguished%20Teacher.htm |title=Some of our distinguished teachers |publisher=[[University of Calcutta]] |access-date = 29 January 2012 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111121002802/http://caluniv.ac.in/About%20the%20university/Distinguished%20Teacher.htm |archive-date = 21 November 2011}}</ref> chemist [[Prafulla Chandra Roy]];<ref name=calunivalumni /> statisticians [[Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis]] and [[Anil Kumar Gain]];<ref name=calunivalumni /> physician [[Upendranath Brahmachari]];<ref name=calunivalumni /> educator [[Ashutosh Mukherjee]];<ref>{{cite book |last1=Petitjean |first1=Patrick |title=Science and empires: historical studies about scientific development and European expansion |year=1992 |publisher=[[Kluwer Academic Publishers]] |location=Dordrecht, The Netherlands |isbn=978-0-7923-1518-6 |last2=Jami |first2=Cathérine|author2-link=Cathérine Jami |last3=Moulin |first3=Anne Marie |page=62}}</ref> and Nobel laureates Rabindranath Tagore,<ref>{{cite book |title=Nobel Lectures, Literature 1901–1967 |year=1999 |publisher=[[World Scientific]] |location=Amsterdam |isbn=978-981-02-3413-3 |url=https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1913/tagore.html |editor=Frenz, Horst |access-date = 3 February 2012 |page=134 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120202212053/http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1913/tagore.html |archive-date = 2 February 2012}}</ref> C. V. Raman,<ref name=calunivteachers /> [[Amartya Sen]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~phildept/sen.html |title=Professor Amartya Sen |publisher=[[President and Fellows of Harvard College]], Harvard University |access-date = 29 January 2012 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120131203559/http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~phildept/sen.html |archive-date = 31 January 2012}}</ref> and [[Abhijit Banerjee]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/economic-sciences/2019/banerjee/facts/ |title=Abhijit Banerjee Facts |website=nobelprize.org |access-date=17 February 2020 |archive-date=8 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608092317/https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/economic-sciences/2019/banerjee/facts/ |url-status=live}}</ref>