1. Updating Information on E-Shiksha Kosh Portal Mandatory for Teachers’ Transfers
Webdesk: It is mandatory to update information related to teachers’ transfers on the E-Shiksha Kosh portal. In this regard, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Education Department has issued instructions to the District Education Officers (DEOs). The directive states that for the resolution of transfer applications received, details regarding the availability and requirement of regular teachers, school instructors, employed teachers, and special category teachers are essential. The details of vacancies and surplus teachers at the school level must be updated and approved on the portal by March 12. Meanwhile, starting March 13, the transfer-related software will be activated for applications across all categories. Once the software is operational, these details cannot be updated. DEOs have been directed to ensure that within the stipulated time, details such as sanctioned posts, the number of teachers working on the E-Shiksha Kosh portal, their names, other particulars, vacancies, surplus teachers, and the required number of teachers are updated. If, under any circumstances, the DEO fails to update the vacancy details by the specified date, they must immediately inform the Director of Primary Education via telephone.
2. Voluntary Transfers for Lakhs of Teachers in Bihar
Webdesk: Lakhs of teachers will undergo voluntary transfers. The number of teachers working on the E-Shiksha Kosh portal, their names, other details, vacancies, surplus teachers, and the required number of teachers must remain updated. If, due to any circumstances, the District Education Officer fails to update the vacancy details by the specified date, they must immediately inform the Director of Primary Education over the phone so that the operation of the software can be deferred. If no such notification is provided, the software will commence operations on March 13. All District Education Officers are required to submit a certificate by March 12 confirming that the data regarding school-wise vacancies and surplus teachers has been fully entered on the E-Shiksha Kosh portal. Any errors in this regard will hold the District Education Officer accountable. It may be recalled that, as per the Education Department’s instructions, online applications for transfers were accepted on the E-Shiksha Kosh portal from December 1 to December 15 last year for teachers facing special difficulties. Under this, 1.90 lakh teachers applied. A decision has been made to consider these applications for transfer and posting in a phased manner. In the first phase, transfers of teachers suffering from various types of cancer have already been completed.
3. School-Level Details for Teachers’ Transfers to Be Updated by March 12
Webdesk: As per the directive, the details of surplus teachers must be updated on the E-Shiksha Kosh portal by March 12. For considering representations received regarding teachers’ transfers and postings, school-level details of vacancies and surplus teachers will be updated by March 12. This process will take seven days. Therefore, starting March 13, the software will be operational for subsequent transfer and posting activities. Certificates will be obtained from DEOs and Establishment DPOs. The Additional Chief Secretary has instructed District Education Officers that information regarding the availability and requirements of teacher categories such as regular teachers, school instructors, employed teachers (including special teachers) is required. Voluntary transfers for lakhs of teachers will take place. For transfer and posting, school-level details of vacancies and surplus teachers must be updated and approved on the E-Shiksha Kosh portal by March 12. The software for transfer and posting will start on March 13, after which no modifications will be possible. Certificates with joint signatures of District Education Officers and District Programme Officers (Establishment) will be obtained for this purpose. In this regard, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Education Department, Dr. S. Siddharth, issued instructions to all District Education Officers of the state on Monday.
4. Rs 1.90 Crore Transferred to Accounts of Inspire Students
Patna: Under the Inspire Standard 2024-25 initiative by the Government of India’s Ministry of Science and Technology and the Department of Science and Technology, funds have been transferred to the accounts of 1,988 selected children from Bihar. Each child, whose innovation has been selected, has been given Rs 10,000 to develop a prototype. A total of Rs 1 crore 98 lakh 80 thousand has been sent to the children of Bihar. With this amount, the children are required to prepare models for district-level competitions. The Bihar Education Project Council has written to all District Education Officers and District Programme Officers (EE-SSA), stating that school principals should be directed to ensure the children prepare their models. In Patna, the accounts of 162 children have received a total of Rs 16.20 lakh. The competition will be held in three stages: district-level, state-level, and national-level.
5. 13,700 Teachers to Be Appointed in Bihar, Including 7,279 Special Teachers for the Disabled
Patna: Bihar will see the appointment of 13,700 teachers. Of these, 7,279 special teachers will be appointed to teach children with disabilities. The process for this has already begun. A requisition for these appointments has been sent to the Bihar Public Service Commission. This information was provided by Education Minister Sunil Kumar in the Legislative Assembly on Monday while discussing the Education Department’s plans and works under the third supplementary budget. The minister added that 6,421 teachers will also be appointed on compassionate grounds. Summer classes have been suspended, and no additional classes will be held for students. To ensure that minor tasks in schools are not hindered, headmasters have been given the authority to undertake works up to Rs 50,000. However, they will not be able to carry out major development works, as this authority has been withdrawn from them. Such works will now be handled at the district magistrate level or from the headquarters. The minister noted that prior to 2005, the state of education in Bihar was deplorable, with neither teachers nor resources available, and the budget was a mere Rs 4,000 crore. After the Nitish government came to power, the education sector underwent a transformation.
6. Bihar’s Cycle Scheme to Be Implemented in Zambia and Mali
Patna: Bihar’s cycle scheme will be implemented in African countries. The United Nations (UNO) has selected Zambia and Mali for this initiative and will provide financial assistance to these nations. Education Minister Sunil Kumar shared this information in the Legislative Assembly on Monday. He stated that a team of American educators and professors recently visited Bihar, studied the Nitish government’s cycle scheme, and conducted a special study focusing on girl students. They observed how this scheme transformed the educational landscape in Bihar, enabling a large number of girls to reach government schools, with their enrollment matching that of boys. Subsequently, the American team submitted a report to the UNO. UNO experts viewed it positively and deemed it highly beneficial for African countries. The report was sent to Zambia and Mali with instructions to implement it locally. Experts from these countries have decided to execute the plan, and the UNO has announced financial support for both nations. It may be noted that the cycle scheme was launched in 2007 for girls studying in Class 9 on the initiative of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
7. Voluntary Transfers for Teachers in Government Schools
Patna: Teachers working in the state’s government schools will undergo voluntary transfers and postings. For considering such transfers and postings, details of vacancies and surplus teachers at the school level will be updated on the E-Shiksha Kosh portal by Wednesday, i.e., March 12, followed by approval. The software for transfers and postings will commence on March 13, after which no modifications will be allowed. Certificates with joint signatures of District Education Officers and District Programme Officers (Establishment) will be obtained. In this regard, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Education Department, Dr. S. Siddharth, issued instructions to all District Education Officers on Monday. As per the directive, information regarding the availability and requirements of teacher categories such as regular teachers, school instructors, employed teachers (including special teachers) is necessary for considering applications received for transfers and postings. The details of vacancies and surplus teachers at the school level must be updated on the E-Shiksha Kosh portal by March 12. Starting March 13, the software for transfers and postings will be operational for applications across all categories. These details cannot be updated during or after the software’s operation. The process of running the software once will take approximately seven days. Therefore, once the software is run, it cannot be operated again for any amendments.
