“Do not scold children, they will do well,” said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to the guardians of Madhyamik examinees on Tuesday. She visited the United Missionaries Secondary School on the way to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.

The headmistress and other teachers of the school welcomed her and asked her to enter, to which she said it “will create disturbance.”

Banerjee mentioned that her niece, Arpita, used to study at the school. She told the principal to estimate the cost of painting and repair works at the school in a week so that she can arrange money for the same.

Banerjee asked the guardians how the board examinations were going, to which they said that until now “they are okay” and the “questions were good”.

Then, the Chief Minister said, “Now, many opportunities are being given. They (the Board) did not give (high marks) before. In our time (when Banerjee was a student), they did not give marks higher than 40. Now, 40 is hardly a score. We changed the system so that these kids get a chance everywhere. The CBSE and ICSE boards used to give high marks. So, now our children will be able to compete in national-level competitions.”