By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: The new teacher manual introduced by the Education Department of the Bihar government has created a significant divide among the teaching community. While the newly appointed teachers under the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) are pleased with the changes, contractual teachers are voicing strong dissatisfaction, particularly regarding the new transfer policy.
Contractual teachers argue that the policy is uprooting them from their homes, while BPSC teachers commend it for bringing educators closer to their hometowns. Social media has become a battleground for both groups, with each side criticising the other over the new rules. BPSC teachers have accused contractual teachers of damaging the education system, alleging that many of them only mark their attendance and spend the day at home due to their proximity to work. They strongly back the new transfer policy across various media platforms.
Deepankar Gaurav, State President of the Bihar Yuva Shikshak Sangh, an organisation representing BPSC teachers, called the new policy “wonderful” and described it as a unique rule in the country. He highlighted that it allows teachers, even those in their probationary period, the chance to apply for transfers. Under the previous policy, many BPSC teachers were posted 200 to 400 kilometres from home, but the new rule will allow them to work within 20 to 40 kilometres of their residences. He did, however, suggest some improvements, especially in districts with limited subdivisions, where he proposed the creation of additional educational subdivisions to facilitate smoother transfers.
On the other hand, Amit Vikram, President of the Bihar State School Teachers’ Association, which represents contractual teachers, criticised the policy, noting that it unfairly benefits BPSC teachers by bringing them closer to home while sending contractual teachers further away. He argued that no other government department offers such proximity to home in postings. Contractual teachers, particularly the men, are boycotting the new policy, as they feel it disrupts their long-standing practice of working near their homes. Vikram emphasised that many contractual teachers, some of whom are over 50 years old, have worked locally for years, and being transferred far from home would create significant family issues.
The contractual teachers demand that, like their female counterparts, male teachers should not be transferred outside their local area. They are calling for either confirmation as state employees in their current schools or postings in nearby institutions to prevent long-distance relocations.
