Krishnagar, April 27: The first government-aided English medium primary school of Bengal opened at a village in Nadia's Chakdah today.

Classes will begin tomorrow at the Madanpur English Medium Primary School, with 60 students and three teachers.

The Bengal government had last year instructed the district primary school council to prepare infrastructure for classes to start from this academic session.

"Following the government's decision, we had sent a proposal to set up four English medium primary schools, one in each sub-division. But so far, one has been approved," said Ramprasad Roy, the chairman of the Nadia district primary school council.

"We have sent a fresh proposal for at least six English medium primary schools. We also want at least five of the 2,600-odd existing schools to be converted into English medium," Roy added.

Trinamul MLA and retired college teacher Ramendra Nath Biswas said: "This is a major initiative that will help poor students learn English at the primary level itself. This will also help children to get admitted in English medium high schools later."

In January this year, the district primary school council in Nadia introduced a compulsory 10-minute English speaking session in all primary schools. The special sessions are being conducted in 2,624 schools in the district.