Education in West Bengal

Education in West Bengal is provided by both the public sector as well as the private sector. The modern education system was developed by the British missionaries and the Indian social reformists. West Bengal has many reputed institutes of higher education like – Jadavpur University (first to introduce chemical engineering and numerous other interdisciplinary studies in India ), Presidency College, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (the first IIM), Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (the first IIT), Bengal Engineering and Science University (2nd oldest engineering institution in India), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, Indian Statistical Institute and Visva-Bharati University.

Kolkata has played a pioneering role in the development of the modern education system in India. Western models of education came to India through Kolkata. Many of the first schools and colleges were established by the missionaries and reformists. Sir William Jones (philologist) established the Asiatic Society in 1784 for promoting oriental studies. People like Ram Mohan Roy, David Hare, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Shashi Bhusan Chatterjee, and William Carey played a leading role in the setting up of modern schools and colleges in the city. The Fort William College was established in 1800. The Hindu College was established in 1817. In 1855 the Hindu College, Calcutta was renamed as the Presidency College.