Patna High Court Upholds Legality of Caste Survey in Bihar; Teacher Training Suspended
In a recent development, the Patna High Court has validated the ongoing caste survey in Bihar, affirming its legality. Following this verdict, the Bihar state government has taken swift action by suspending all ongoing teacher training programs.
The Bihar Education Department has directed district authorities to intensify inspections of schools and colleges, ensuring that teachers are not involved in non-teaching assignments. The department has temporarily halted all teacher training sessions, including those for newly hired educators, in order to prioritize the resumption of the caste survey. However, it has now announced that training sessions will continue for staff members who are not engaged in the survey from August 7.
In a letter dated August 1, 2023, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the Education Department, K K Pathak, urged district magistrates (DMs) to ensure that no schools in their respective districts are left without teachers during their involvement in the caste survey. Pathak emphasized that teachers should not be engaged in any other administrative work aside from the survey, while also emphasizing the importance of maintaining the quality of education in government schools.
To further ensure the smooth operation of educational institutions, the Director Administration of the Bihar Education Department issued a letter dated August 2, 2023, instructing senior officials to conduct regular inspections of at least ten schools or degree colleges per week. The officials are required to submit inspection reports to the department’s headquarters on a consistent basis.
Although the ongoing training sessions for teachers were initially suspended to facilitate the completion of the caste survey, the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) Director, Sajjan R, sent a letter on August 3 to heads of various teacher education institutions, urging them to resume residential training for incoming batches of teachers, including new recruits, from August 7.
With the Patna High Court validating the caste survey as valid and legal, the state government has halted ongoing teacher training programs to allow educators to contribute to the timely completion of the survey. As per the latest announcement, training sessions will only resume for those teachers who are not involved in the survey starting from August 7. To support the caste survey exercise, the state government has allocated Rs 500 crore from its contingency fund. The general administration department serves as the nodal authority for conducting the survey.
By adhering to these recent developments, the Bihar state government aims to ensure the effective implementation of the caste survey while minimizing disruptions to the education system. The resumption of teacher training sessions for staff not involved in the survey will contribute to maintaining the quality of education in government schools. The government’s allocation of funds emphasizes the significance it places on obtaining accurate data through the caste survey.
In conclusion, the Patna High Court’s validation of the caste survey in Bihar and the subsequent suspension of teacher training programs highlight the government’s commitment to conducting a comprehensive survey. By prioritizing the survey and resuming training sessions for teachers not involved in the exercise, the Bihar state government aims to strike a balance between data collection and the provision of quality education.
