In a move to enhance the quality of education in the state, the Bihar Education Department has implemented stringent measures, deducting the salaries of 12,987 school teachers who were found absent during inspections in the last six months. Additionally, 39 teachers have been suspended for various teaching violations, and 13 educators have been dismissed for prolonged unauthorized absence and violations of teachers’ recruitment regulations.
An anonymous official from the department stated, “In the last six months, salaries of 12,987 teachers were deducted for being absent without permission for periods ranging from six months to two years. Recommendations for salary deduction of 131 more teachers have been sent, and 13 teachers have been dismissed for violating recruitment regulations.”
The department’s recent circulars have faced criticism, prompting Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to seek “corrective measures” against what he termed “unconstitutional” and “autocratic” orders. Both the alliance partners of the Mahagathbandhan government and the opposition BJP have demanded the withdrawal of these circulars.
The state education department initiated intense inspections of schools from July 1, leading to notices, suspensions, and dismissals for teachers. The department aims to reform the education system, but critics argue that certain circulars are “autocratic” and should be implemented with a “human face.”
Sandeep Saurav, an MLA of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, commented, “Reforms in the education system should be done with a human face. Teachers should not be held responsible for all sorts of flaws in the education system.”
Nikhil Anand, a senior BJP leader, raised concerns about the number of teachers facing disciplinary actions and questioned the nature of the circulars issued by Additional Chief Secretary K K Pathak.
Despite attempts to obtain comments, Bihar Education Minister Chandra Shekhar was not available for a response.
