The Bihar Education Department has asked all DMs to make the’monitoring system’ of schools in their respective areas a regular activity as a result of the positive results of District Magistrates’ regular inspection of government schools.
In a letter dated July 26, 2023 to all DMs, K K Pathak, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Education Department, requested them to audit government schools in their respective districts at least twice a week and to make it “a regular exercise” to raise the standard of education in the state.
In the past, DMs were asked to conduct monthly inspections of the public schools in their districts.
The department discovered that almost 23,000 government schools were inspected during the month-long (July) exercise by the DMs.
Therefore, school inspections by DMs should be become a regular activity right now, according to the ACS Education department’s letter. PTI has the letter in its possession.
The Education Department has also expressed its displeasure at secondary and higher secondary schools’ failure to use a startling sum of over Rs 1,100 crore, many of which lack basic amenities like drinking water facilities, restrooms, and lighting.
Pathak warned of the worrying scenario in another letter to DMs, who were informed that more than Rs 261 crore intended for primary schools also went unused even though the money might have been used for scholarships and uniform purchases.
All District Education Officers (DEOs) have been asked to hold virtual meetings of the principals of their respective areas of authority in the evening on a daily basis, according to Pathak in a letter dated July 24, 2023, to all DMs. These virtual sessions will go into great detail each day about the actions being done by the principals of the individual schools to raise the calibre of instruction, extracurricular activities for students, and other measures.
So that virtual meetings with principals can begin right away, all DMs are urged to create an action plan in collaboration with DEOs. In the state, there are 75,000 public schools overall.
It was discovered that student attendance at government schools in the state is not excellent and satisfactory during the month-long inspection of government schools, which began on July 1, 2023, under the supervision of DMs in all districts. To improve the overall academic climate in schools, a lot needs to be done, including the introduction of innovative measures, holding regular computer classes, opening e-libraries, hiring qualified and experienced teachers for mathematics, science, and English from outside, providing better internet facilities, safety measures, etc.
“Inspection also showed that secondary and higher secondary schools, many of which lack basic amenities like drinking water facilities, bathrooms, and light bulbs, nonetheless had access to a startling amount of nearly Rs 1,100 crore. Principals were intended to spend these monies, but due to various obligations, they were unable to do so, according to the ACS Education department’s letter.
Similar to this, more than Rs 261 crore intended for primary schools went unused despite the fact that the money might have been utilised to fund student scholarships and uniforms.
“Principals and school management committees are accountable for the underutilization of funds here as well. In a five-page letter, the ACS commanded all DMs to “examine options whether these funds can be utilised for specific academic activities in the schools in coordination with their respective DEOs; otherwise, the amount should be immediately deposited to the government treasury.”
The same procedure, according to Pathak, should be used for the 1,100 crore rupees in funds left unused for secondary and higher secondary institutions. In order to allow principals to utilise these monies without having to go through a drawn-out administrative procedure, the ACS has already started the process of streamlining rules.
The examination revealed that many of the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) kits, sports and scientific lab supplies, and materials for youth and eco clubs that had been distributed to state schools as part of the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan were not used at all. Pathak wrote in his letter, “In some instances, crates holding these artefacts were not even opened for years by the school administration.
Chandra Shekhar, the Bihar Education Minister, was unavailable for comment despite multiple attempts by the PTI to reach him.
By Nishtha Dhoundiyal
