Patna School Scandal: Students Forced to Carry Heavy Textbooks on Heads
A shocking incident from an upgraded middle school in Masathu village, located under Ekdanga panchayat in the Barh subdivision of Patna district, has exposed severe deficiencies in the state's education system. A viral video circulating on social media has ignited public fury and drawn immediate attention from education authorities.
Viral Video Captures Disturbing Scene
The widely shared footage depicts students from classes V to VIII balancing heavy bundles of textbooks on their heads as they transport them into the school premises for distribution. Eyewitnesses and students revealed that these textbooks, intended for free distribution under various government schemes, were initially brought from the Barh block cluster office to the school vicinity using two e-rickshaws.
However, the e-rickshaw drivers refused to take the load inside the school campus. At this critical juncture, students alleged that a schoolteacher instructed them to unload the books and carry the heavy bundles themselves, leading to the distressing visuals captured in the video.
Public Outrage and Official Response
The incident occurred in full public view, with one of the e-rickshaw drivers recording the episode on his cellphone. The video quickly became the focal point of widespread criticism, with many questioning how children could be subjected to such physically demanding labor during school hours.
Sources indicate that when the school's incharge, Mohammad Shakeel Ahmed, arrived at the scene, he attempted to intervene and prevent further escalation. He reportedly told the e-rickshaw driver that payment would only be released after the books were fully delivered inside the school premises.
Adding to the controversy, a Class VIII student claimed that the school incharge himself assigned the task to him and several other students, directing them to carry the textbook bundles into the school building.
Departmental Inquiry and Show-Cause Notice
Taking cognizance of the matter, Block Education Officer (BDO) of Barh, Amit Kumar, issued a show-cause notice to the school head, demanding an explanation for the circumstances under which schoolchildren were allegedly engaged in manual labor.
"The matter came to light around 3 PM on Saturday when I received a video of the incident. After verifying it, the notice was issued late in the evening," Kumar stated. He emphasized that the issue would not be taken lightly, warning that strict disciplinary action would be taken against the school head if he failed to provide a satisfactory answer.
Additional Concerns Raised During Investigation
During the preliminary inquiry, Kumar highlighted another troubling aspect: the children seen in the video were not wearing school uniforms, raising doubts about whether they were enrolled students of the institution. "This aspect will also be investigated as part of the inquiry," he affirmed.
The incident has sparked a broader debate about the treatment of students and the implementation of government schemes in educational institutions, underscoring the need for systemic reforms to protect children's rights and dignity.
