The Principal Secretary of the Education Department, K.K. Pathak, expresses serious concern about the attendance of teachers and students in government schools. The Education Department is now determined to regulate teachers taking maternity, paternity, child care leave, etc. Female teachers will now face various restrictions during leaves.
The Education Department is gearing up to enforce regulations on teachers who opt for maternity, paternity, or child care leave. Teachers preparing for these leaves must adhere to new guidelines issued by the Director of Secondary Education, Kanhaiya Prasad. Maternity leave approval will be granted for 15 consecutive days within 15 days before the expected date and six months after childbirth. Decisions will be based on merit.
Female teachers will now only be eligible for maternity leave for up to two children. The maternity leave period will extend up to 180 days from the commencement date. Child care leave will not be approved during examination periods. School teachers are entitled to 16 days of casual leave per calendar year. The accrued casual leave is proportional to the months worked during the appointment year.
Maternity, paternity, child care, and earned leaves are statutory, but the payment of allowances will adhere to government provisions. The Bihar Service Code prohibits claiming leave rights without proper justification. The competent authority may reject or cancel any leave if essential for public service under Lok Seva.
Over 900 headmasters in Bihar face salary freezes due to KK Pathak’s orders, leading to dissatisfaction among teachers. Teacher unions announce protests, seeking Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s intervention. Demands include withdrawing controversial orders, easing optional transfers, and setting the retirement age at 62.
KK Pathak stands firm on the school’s timing, requiring teachers to work a mandatory 8-hour duty. He dismisses claims of difficulties faced by weaker students in post-class study sessions. Teachers across the state have requested a review of the 5 pm deadline, citing various issues, but Pathak asserts that teachers must fulfill their duty at schools for 8 hours.
In conclusion, the Education Department in Bihar faces resistance and protests from teacher unions due to recent stringent regulations on leaves, working hours, and other policy changes. The situation remains tense as teachers demand reconsideration of these measures.
