From next year, classes I to V will have the semester system, the West Bengal Board of Primary Education (WBBPE) announced on Friday. Bengal is the second state after Andhra Pradesh to introduce the credit-based semester system (CBSS).

Under the system, each primary class will have two semesters and an academic bank of credit. This system aims to create a dynamic primary school curriculum that ensures holistic education, focusing on foundational literacy and numeracy while developing essential competencies and skills aligned with national standards.

This year, students in primary classes had only an annual test. Now, the curriculum will be split in two semesters — Jan 2 to June 15, and July 1 to Nov 30. There will be 40-mark exams for the first semester and 60-mark exams for the second. First semester exams will be held between June 16 and June 30, while second semester exams will be held between Dec 1 and Dec 23.

Each semester will encompass regular classroom learning and teaching (CRLT), activity assignments linked to CRLT, and pre-vocational skill-based experiential learning. The questions for the second semester for each class will be set by the primary board, but the papers will be evaluated by the teachers of the respective schools.

WBBPE president Goutam Paul said, "The semester system's introduction aims to equip students with skills necessary for future challenges. The board has submitted its proposal to the state, and upon receiving official approval, we are going to implement it from the upcoming academic year."

A centralised digital credit repository could function as a virtual storage system, maintaining individual academic records linked to unique account numbers. This system would store and track all educational credits earned by students throughout their academic journey. If students temporarily halt their education, they can resume their studies later, with their previously accumulated credits intact. Students would receive unique identification numbers from their primary education onwards. This system would maintain records of their earned and stored academic credits. Beyond simple credit storage, this arrangement would enhance educational flexibility throughout one's life. Through Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) enrolment, students could pursue continuous education according to their preferences and circumstances.