Controversy Erupts In Bihar Over Scheduling Of Teachers’ Training And Exams During Holi, Good Friday

New Delhi: The Bihar education department’s decision to schedule a training program for government teachers and annual examinations for school students on Holi and Good Friday has sparked a row in the state, with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s ally BJP as well as rival RJD criticising the decision. A circular issued by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) on March 20 stated, Officials concerned must ensure that all primary school teachers (from Classes 1 to 5) who have not attended training session earlier, must attend the six-day Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) training that is being organised by the council from March 25-30.

According to the letter, a total of 19,200 government school teachers are slated to attend the FLN training across 78 centers organised by the department. The SCERT, a wing of the education department, has explicitly stated that no leave will be granted to any individuals during the training period. Similarly, the department’s decision to proceed with annual examinations for students below Class 8, even on Good Friday (March 29), has stirred controversy, reported PTI.

The Bihar government’s declaration of public holidays on Holi and Good Friday has added complexity to the controversy surrounding the scheduling of exams and teacher training programs. Robert L Chongthu, the principal secretary to the Bihar governor, has intervened by urging the chief secretary to direct the department to adjust the exam schedule for March 29.

However, the SCERT on Sunday afternoon issued a statement, contending that deferring the training program for just three percent of government teachers would disrupt the entire exercise. “If the residential training of teachers is deferred even by a week, then a large number of teachers would not be able to complete their second round of training in a year. The entire process will be jeopardised,” it said.

Giriraj Singh Reacted On The Matter

In response to the situation, senior BJP leader and Union minister Giriraj Singh wrote on X: “Exploitation of teachers should be stopped in Bihar. Cancelling leave of teachers on Holi and sending Begusarai teachers to Vaishali for training is a very absurd step. He called for the immediate withdrawal of the order by the Bihar government.”

बिहार में शिक्षकों का शोषण बंद होना चाहिए।
होली पर सभी शिक्षकों की छुट्टी रद्द कर बेगूसराय के शिक्षकों को प्रशिक्षण के लिए वैशाली भेजना बहुत ही बेतुका कदम है।
बिहार सरकार को इस पर तुरंत संज्ञान लेना चाहिए और सनातनी त्योहार का सम्मान करना चाहिए।

— Shandilya Giriraj Singh (मोदी का परिवार) (@girirajsinghbjp) March 24, 2024

Notably, Singh represents Begusarai as a Lok Sabha MP. Meanwhile, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav also weighed in on the matter, seeking the intervention of the chief minister. As per orders of the NDA government in Bihar, teachers have to be present even on the day of Holi, as per PTI report.

RJD leader, Mrityunjay Tiwary, told PTI that the development indicates  “complete anarchy” within the state government and the education department. He also emphasised the insensitivity of organising teacher training programs and exams on religious festivals, asserting that such actions are likely to offend the religious sentiments of the people.”These circulars must be withdrawn”, he said.

Nikhil Anand, national general secretary of BJP’s OBC Morcha, added, “Teachers in Bihar are being harassed.” He accused several officials in the education department of acting against the principles of the NDA government and the sentiments of the public. Anand said that the state’s education system would not progress if such stubbornness and arrogance persisted among administrative officers.