Make inspection of government schools a regular exercise: Bihar Education Department to DMs

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

inspection of government schools by District Magistrates, the Bihar Education Department has requested all DMs to make the 'monitoring system' of schools in their respective areas a regular exercise now. Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Education Department, K K Pathak, in a letter dated July 26, 2023, to all DMs urged them to inspect government schools in their respective district at least twice a week and to make it 'a regular exercise' to improve the quality of education in the state.

Earlier, DMs were requested to carry out regular inspections of government schools in their districts for a month only. During the month-long (July) exercise by the DMs, the department found that around 23,000 government schools were inspected.

«Therefore, inspection of schools by DMs should be made a regular exercise now», said the ACS Education department in his letter. The letter is in the possession of PTI.

Meanwhile, the Education department has expressed dismay over the non-utilisation of a staggering sum of over Rs 1,100 crore by secondary and higher secondary schools, many of which lack basic amenities like drinking water facilities, toilets and light. The alarming situation was flagged by Pathak in another letter to DMs who have been told that more than Rs 261 crore, meant for primary schools, also remained unutilised though the sum could be used for providing scholarships and supplying uniforms.

In a letter, dated July 24, 2023, to all DMs, Pathak said, «In a bid to improve 'quality of classroom transaction', all District Education Officers (DEOs) have been directed to hold virtual meetings of principals of their respective area of jurisdiction in the evening on daily basis. What steps are being taken to improve the quality of