The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) will introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cyber Security, and project-based subjects into its Higher Secondary (HS) curriculum starting the 2026-27 academic session. The decision aims to equip students with contemporary, skill-oriented knowledge aligned with current industry demands.
New Subjects Introduced
The WBCHSE is launching new subjects under two categories: Council Assisted Courses (CAC) and Council Taught Courses (CTC). These additions replace AI and Data Science courses offered in the previous academic year.
Council Assisted Courses (CAC)
Under the CAC stream, students can enroll in:
- Artificial Intelligence & Data Science (AIDS)
- Applied Artificial Intelligence (APAI)
- Cyber Security (CBST)
The WBCHSE will conduct regular online sessions for these CAC subjects after school hours. Schools must meet specific criteria to offer these courses.
Council Taught Courses (CTC)
The CTC stream will focus on project-based learning. The WBCHSE will directly manage the teaching process for these subjects:
- Entrepreneurship and Related Legal Rights (ERLR)
- Intellectual Property Rights and Laws (IPRL)
- Indology (INDO)
- Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship (SDGC)
Instruction for CTC subjects will primarily be online. District-level offline classes may also be organized as needed. Qualified subject experts will teach through online platforms like Zoom, supplemented by pre-recorded lectures.
Previous Curriculum Changes
In the 2023-24 academic year, the WBCHSE discontinued ‘Artificial Intelligence (ARTI)’ and ‘Data Science and Technology (DTSC)’. New subjects added for Class 12 students at that time included Environmental Science (EVSC), Fisheries and Aquaculture (FSAQ), Business Mathematics and Basic Statistics (BMBS), and Basic Mathematics and Social Science (BMSS).
Recent Class 12 Exams Conclude
The WBCHSE recently completed its Class 12 examinations from February 12 to February 27. Over 7.10 lakh students registered, with an attendance rate exceeding 97.7%. Approximately 15,739 students were absent.
No students took the exam from police stations this year. However, 12 students were caught with mobile phones, resulting in the cancellation of their registrations and exams. The council reported minor issues, with some mathematics questions noted as being out-of-syllabus.
Tragic incidents occurred during the exam period. A school teacher died in an accident while returning from invigilation duties, with another teacher injured in the same incident. Separately, a student was killed in an accident while en route to their geography exam.