The inspection drive was necessitated after the Chief Secretary of a neighbouring state alleged in a letter that students from other states were purchasing degrees from such institutions without attending any classes.The state higher education department has issued show-cause notices to at least 450 BEd (Bachelor of Education) colleges in the state after allegations surfaced of several ‘cash-for-degrees’ scams, Higher Education Minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay informed Thursday.Addressing a press conference, Chattopadhyay alleged that fake degrees were being sold at several BEd, polytechnic, ITI and pharmacy colleges in the state, while adding that a number of BEd colleges had mushroomed in West Bengal in the last 15 years.He informed that the higher education department had conducted inspections across all of the 602 BEd colleges in the state throughout July and August.265 institutions ‘defunct’; 53 exist ‘only on paper’The minister informed that the institutions’ infrastructure and teaching standards were evaluated on a 100-mark matrix, and that an average score of just 51.5 per cent was achieved.Of the 602 BEd colleges, 53 were found to be non-existing — officials found upon inspection that either other activities were being run upon the premises or they were locked.Besides, a total of 265 institutions were being categorised as ‘non-functional’ for being “fake” or “unqualified” or “unaffiliated”.In 17 cases, the No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for BEd colleges were found to be issued to residential addresses. These colleges were “faking” the operations in residential buildings, the minister claimed.Story continues below this adBesides, the infrastructure in 121 of the total colleges was found to be in a dire condition. Meanwhile, 114 colleges scored below 30 on the 100-mark scale.According to Chattopadhyay, only 151 colleges scored between 65 and 85 per cent, with proper infrastructure, teacher attendance, and functional CCTVs.Chattopadhyay informed that over 62,000 BEd degrees are awarded annually in the state. He also alleged that many students from Goa, northeast India and neighbouring states enrol in these BEd colleges which are primarily Bengali-medium, questioning how a non-Bengali speaker could partake in education there.The inspection drive was necessitated after the Chief Secretary of a neighbouring state alleged in a letter that students from other states were purchasing degrees from such institutions without attending any classes.Story continues below this ad“A neighbouring state CS wrote to our CS that in our state, various professional colleges like BEd, law, polytechnic, and ITI are selling degrees. We then looked into the matter because the allegation was that their state’s education system was getting affected as the students are no longer studying there but are coming to West Bengal and buying degrees,” the minister said.White paper soon on education scams: MinisterThe higher education department has given 21 days to the nearly 450 BEd colleges which have been issued show-cause notices.“Within 21 days they are to reply as to what corrective measures they have taken… If we are not satisfied, we will de-affiliate them,” the minister warned.Meanwhile, he said the government will also publish a white paper on alleged education scams under the previous TMC-led government in the state.Story continues below this ad“Very soon the Higher education department will bring out all the corruption which has happened in the last 15 years… We will bring out a white paper on corruption, and we will send the findings to the commission formed under Justice Biswajit Basu.”He further alleged that some people were doing business in the name of higher education.“After the BJP came to power, our CM has said that education is important… The CM himself held a meeting with us to improve the education system,” he added. Tanusree Bose is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Kolkata. Her work focuses sharply on the complex administrative, political, and judicial developments across West Bengal, establishing her as an authoritative voice in regional news coverage. Experience Current Role: Reports for the prestigious national daily, The Indian Express, providing her content with a high level of Trustworthiness. Geographical Expertise: Provides focused, in-depth coverage of West Bengal, demonstrating an intimate knowledge of the state's news and political nuances. Core Authority: Her reporting portfolio highlights deep Expertise in crucial, often sensitive, beats, including: State Politics and Governance: Covering the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), opposition strategies (BJP), and internal political controversies. Judicial and Administrative Affairs: Closely monitoring key developments in the Calcutta High Court, particularly major rulings related to employment, education, and social issues. Education Sector: Extensive reporting on significant controversies, such as teacher recruitment irregularities and administrative actions by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE). Social & Electoral Issues: Covering public events, community tensions (e.g., religious/political gatherings), and election-related processes like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll. Tanusree Bose's consistent output and focus on high-stakes regional issues for a trusted media outlet underscore her status as a reliable and authoritative source for news from West Bengal. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on InstagramTags:Kolkata