A government-sponsored school in Behala will start an English medium section in January.

Children's Welfare Association High School for Girls felt there was a demand for an English medium school in the area. Many of the existing students, some of them first-generation learners, have also shown an interest in switching to English medium.

The school got the go-ahead to start the English medium school from the school education department recently.

"...the Department of School Education has no objection to the proposal for introduction of English as a medium of instruction along with existing Bengali medium of instruction from Class V to Class XII in Children's Welfare Association High School for Girls (HS), Kolkata, subject to the observance of usual formalities in this regard from the next academic session," said the letter from the school education department.

The school, which will also be an all-girls school, will begin by taking students in Classes V and VI.

"Many of our existing students in Class V have already shown an interest in switching to the English medium. The parents are aspirational and want to provide an English medium education to their children but going to a private school is beyond their means," said Sarbari Sengupta, the school's headmistress.

The fee in the Bengali medium is ₹240 annually.

Sengupta said that the queries she has been getting for admission are mostly from parents of children working in small private offices or small-scale businessmen.

"Many of the parents have an older child in a private English medium school but cannot provide private education to both their kids. In fact, in the past we have had instances when parents admitted their children to private English medium schools in primary classes and later failed to cope with the expenses and brought their kids to us," said Sengupta.

"Some parents lost their jobs during the Covid pandemic," she said.

Most parents want their children to go to an English medium school hoping for an edge in the job market and better employability.

"Academically a student in a Bengali medium school is at par with a student of an English medium school. But the job market requires them to be able to communicate in English," the teacher said.

Even for an average job, there is a need to know basic English, said a teacher.

The school decided to apply for an English medium school at the end of 2023.

"We had to survey the locality and provide a list of eligible parents with their signatures who would be interested in an English medium school," said Sengupta.