Bihar: After Facing Flak, Nitish Govt Withdraws Notice To Slash Number Of Festive Holidays

Bihar government has withdrawn the notice of reducing the number of festive holidays in government schools.

Bihar govt withdraws order to reduce holidays after teachers warns of protest.

The Bihar Education Department has withdrawn its earlier notice, which aimed to decrease the number of festive holidays in government schools from 23 to 11 during the period from September to December. The order, which was issued on August 29, faced substantial criticism from teachers. Teacher associations also declared their intent to initiate a statewide protest starting on September 5. This protest is aimed at protesting various measures implemented by the state education department, including a reduction in leaves of the teachers.

The education department, in a circular issued on Monday evening, said, "The department withdraws revised holiday calendar with immediate effect. Therefore, the old holiday calendar remains effective."

Despite the withdrawal of the revised holiday calendar, teachers' associations have affirmed that their planned agitation scheduled to begin on Tuesday still stands.

“We (teachers) work 252 days in a year while the target set by the education department is only for 220 days. Though it is aware of it, the department reduced the number of leaves of the teachers. Those teachers who raised their voices against the department's decision were suspended or clarifications were sought from them. These are not acceptable,” Keshaw Kumar, the president of Teacher Association Bihar, told PTI.

"We also demand the immediate withdrawal of all departmental action, including suspension, initiated against several teachers. We also demand the regularisation of contractual teachers," Raju Singh, convener of TET Primary Teachers' Association told PTI.

The state education department introduced the special holiday calendar recently with the objective of ensuring that primary and middle schools in the state adhere to the maximum number of workdays mandated by the Right to Education Act.

The department also implemented a series of stringent measures aimed at instilling greater dedication among its teachers and officials while enhancing the academic environment within government-run schools across the state.