In a move to keep pace with the times and strengthen students' foundations, the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) has decided to introduce practical-based courses for Journalism and Mass Communication at the higher secondary level. This curriculum will now be aligned with undergraduate standards, a portion of it closely influenced by Calcutta University’s syllabus, providing a robust platform for students.
With the rising interest in journalism and mass communication studies, the demand for comprehensive courses has been increasing among students. While these subjects are thoroughly taught at the higher education level, there has been no complete curriculum at the school level until now. Previously, these subjects were only taught theoretically in higher secondary education.
To bridge this gap, WBCHSE has decided to offer Journalism and Mass Communication as practical subjects. Alongside theoretical knowledge, students will now have the opportunity to engage in summer internships. The entire curriculum is designed to mirror higher education standards.
In the previous format, students had to score 80 marks in theory and 20 marks in project work out of a total of 100. With the shift to a practical-based approach, the distribution has changed to 70 marks for theory and 30 marks for practical work. The first semester will cover theoretical aspects such as communication types, general knowledge of journalism and mass communication, and an introduction to various media types including electronic media, radio, television, film, and print journalism. The history of mass communication will also be taught. The second semester will focus on hands-on training in radio and television.
The state has formulated an alternative education policy emphasising vocational education alongside traditional studies, including various internship opportunities. According to the Council, semester-based summer internships will now be available for journalism and mass communication students, offering them invaluable real-world experience.