Data from a recent statewide initiative in Bihar has revealed a significant gap in parental engagement between rural and urban government schools. Parent-teacher meetings (PTMs) held last Saturday saw a clear geographical split in participation, with rural districts outperforming their urban counterparts by a wide margin.
The Stark Numbers: Rural Excellence vs Urban Struggle
According to figures compiled until Monday, more than 70% of schools across the state conducted the scheduled meetings. However, the compliance rate painted two very different pictures. Leading the state was Sheohar district with perfect 100% participation, followed closely by Vaishali at 99% and Begusarai at 86%.
In stark contrast, major urban centres reported alarmingly low turnout. The state capital, Patna, managed only a 20% engagement rate. Similarly, Gaya and Muzaffarpur both recorded a meagre 23% participation in their PTMs.
Officials Explain the Underlying Causes
A senior education department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, attributed this disparity to deep-rooted socio-economic factors and the availability of alternatives. “In urban districts like Patna, owing to multiple alternatives, most people opt for private schools, meaning only the extremely poor enrol their children in govt schools,” the official explained.
The official further highlighted that many children from underprivileged urban families often work to support their households, which consistently affects PTM attendance. For daily wage earners in cities, losing a day's salary to attend a school meeting is often not a viable option.
Why Rural Turnout Is Stronger
The scenario is reversed in rural Bihar. “Due to the lack of schools to choose from, almost all people living in rural districts put their children in govt schools. This is why parental participation is inherently greater in such areas,” the official stated. The presence of mothers at home also facilitates easier attendance in rural settings.
Incentives like the midday meal scheme play a crucial role in rural school engagement. For nearly 30% of students, this meal is their first of the day, making school attendance—and by extension, parental involvement—more consistent.
The Path Forward: Strategies for Improvement
The official identified engaging first-generation learners and their parents as the biggest organizational challenge. The priority is to help uneducated parents understand the value of PTMs for tracking academic progress.
Currently, statewide parental turnout is estimated to be between 30% and 45%. The long-term plan involves moving from large group PTMs to class-wise, one-on-one interactions, allowing for personalized progress reports.
“Only with consistent awareness drives and continued monthly PTMs will the percentage rise,” the official stressed. Recognizing teachers' central role, the official added that they must be “incentivised, appreciated, and recognised” to motivate them to conduct these meetings on a better and larger scale every month.
