By Akanksha Raj
The Bihar teachers’ groups and representatives are resisting the education department panel’s proposals of making the competency test mandatory for working teachers.
Bihar’s education department has instructed all district magistrates (DMs) to take disciplinary action and, if necessary, charge them under relevant parts of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) if they continue to demonstrate against the competency exam before the budget session on February 13.
“According to news reports, they have announced a boycott of the competency exam and aim to conduct a demonstration on February 13. It indicates they’re attempting to interrupt educational activities in schools that day. If there is a sit-in or demonstration in districts or Patna, treat it as a “unlawful assembly” under section 141 of the IPC and file a FIR against them under sections 186 and 187 of the IPC,” says a letter from the director of secondary education to all DMs on Monday evening.
Bihar teachers’ unions and state politicians are resisting the education department panel’s suggestions for a mandatory competency exam for working teachers in order to remain in service and obtain government employee status.
According to the panel’s recommendations, teachers working in schools since 2006 would have four chances at a competency exam to be eligible for government employee status, with an understanding that passing at least one will be necessary to maintain continued service.
Teachers are expected to protest the bill and its riders during the Bihar legislature’s budget session, which started on February 12, despite the fact that the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) has already announced that the deadline for submitting online applications will be February 15.
Shatrughan Prasad Singh, president of the Bihar Secondary Teachers‘ Association and a former MP, said the government should look into the circumstances in order to find a solution because teachers who have been working for 15-20 years have already completed multiple tests and performed in the classroom to establish their worth.
“The CM also stated that it would be a straightforward test, and those who did not pass would remain in their current positions. We trust the Chief Minister and the incoming Education Minister, Vijay Kumar Choudhary, will act to make things right. “harassing action is not the solution,” he stressed.