Bihar Education Minister Announces Major Reforms for Research Institutes and Teacher Management
In a significant development in the Bihar Legislative Council, State Education Minister Sunil Kumar presented a comprehensive plan to revitalize the state's research and educational infrastructure. During Friday's session, the minister acknowledged that the condition of research institutes in Bihar is currently unsatisfactory and outlined immediate corrective measures.
Search Committee Formation and Financial Autonomy for Research Institutes
The education department will constitute a search committee within the current financial year to ensure competent appointments against existing vacancies in research institutions. This move comes in direct response to concerns raised about institutes like the Mithila Sanskrit Post Graduate Study and Research Institute, which has reportedly seen no admissions for years due to critical teacher shortages.
Congress MLC Madan Mohan Jha, who raised the issue through a starred question, emphasized the institute's historical significance in preserving Indian knowledge traditions. He noted that the academic office has remained closed for years, jeopardizing both current operations and the preservation of 12,500 rare manuscripts housed at the facility.
Minister Kumar responded that the government is considering granting financial autonomy to such institutes to enable more effective functioning and help them secure a place on the national research map. Beyond committee formation, the government is extending financial support to improve infrastructure across all research institutions.
Teacher Transfer System and Pay Scale Review
On the contentious issue of teacher transfers and postings, Minister Kumar revealed that approximately 2.50 lakh teachers have been transferred in Bihar, with 75–80% reportedly satisfied with the outcomes. He described the transfer process as continuous and announced that further transfers would be addressed after the budget session concludes.
The minister specifically addressed concerns about teachers appointed under the old pay scale who have been denied certain facilities. He committed to reviewing this issue, noting that teachers with legitimate health concerns or other valid reasons would receive appropriate consideration in transfer decisions.
Multiple Administrative Concerns Addressed
The legislative session covered several additional educational administration matters:
- MLC Nawal Kishore Yadav raised the issue of casual leave being improperly clubbed with Sundays or other leave days. Minister Kumar assured that necessary amendments would be made to address this concern.
- Cleanliness in government schools emerged as another point of contention, with MLC Jeevan Kumar and other members alleging that agencies engaged for cleaning work were performing inadequately while receiving payments without proper principal approval.
- The Chairperson suggested exploring direct appointments within schools rather than relying on external agencies, requesting the government present a proper solution to this ongoing problem.
Pharmacy College Approvals Remain Stalled
For the second consecutive day, members expressed dissatisfaction regarding pending approvals for 140 pharmacy colleges in Bihar. MLCs Rajvardhan Azad, Ajay Kumar, Sanjay Singh, and Neeraj Kumar highlighted that these institutions have awaited departmental clearance for four years, forcing Bihar students to seek pharmacy education outside the state.
The members demanded action against officials allegedly responsible for the delays. In response, Chairperson Awadhesh Narain Singh directed members of the Upper House health committee to meet with the concerned minister and work toward resolving this long-standing issue.
Minister Kumar's announcements represent a multi-faceted approach to addressing systemic challenges in Bihar's education sector, focusing on research institution revitalization, teacher management reforms, and administrative efficiency improvements across various educational domains.
