During Navratri and Durga Puja in Bihar, a significant increase in teacher leave has been observed. Over 3,000 teachers are on leave, affecting school operations. Responsibilities such as salary complaints and election duties have also increased.
Patna: During Navratri and Durga Puja in Bihar, the Education Department is receiving a large number of leave applications from teachers. Even on normal days, approximately 1,500 to 2,000 teachers are on leave daily. This number further increases during festivals. Ahead of Durga Puja, over three thousand teachers have already applied for leave via the online portal.
Teacher Situation in the District
In Patna district, a total of 24,000 teachers are employed. Among them, approximately 1,000 teachers are on deputation to other locations, while the rest maintain attendance in local schools. The large number of leave applications received during festival periods causes operational difficulties for the department. According to Education Department officials, the primary reasons for leave are Durga Puja and other religious festivals.
Teacher Shortage During Festivals
Durga Puja holidays in government schools have been declared from September 29 to October 2. Approximately 1,000 teachers in the district had already applied for leave starting September 22. Most applications are from teachers who commute from remote areas. This exacerbates the problem of teacher shortage in schools, with local teachers bearing the burden of keeping schools operational.
Teachers' Complaints Regarding Salary
Teachers are also filing complaints regarding salary on the portal. According to the District Education Office, some teachers have complained that their salaries have not been regularized. This primarily includes newly appointed teachers. The department is working to resolve this issue at the administrative level.
Teachers on Leave and Election Duties
The head teacher of a school in Mahendru block stated that there is a significant shortage of teachers during festivals such as Durga Puja, Chhath, Diwali, and Holi. Most teachers from remote areas go on extended leave. Schools are then run relying on local teachers and assistant teachers. Additionally, some teachers are assigned election duties as Booth Level Officers (BLOs), further reducing the number of available teachers in schools.
School Holidays from September to December
Considering festivals and winter breaks, schools will have a total of 22 days of holidays from September to December. These include:
- September 29 to October 2: Durga Puja
- October 20 to 29: Dhanteras, Diwali, Chitragupta Puja, Bhai Dooj, and Chhath Puja
- November 5: Kartik Purnima and Guru Nanak Jayanti
- December 25 to 31: Winter Break and Christmas Day
During this period, there will be increased pressure on local teachers and support staff for school operations.
Challenges for the Education Department
During festive seasons, a large number of teachers taking leave creates operational difficulties for the department. Responsibilities such as teacher shortages in schools, salary complaints, and election duties increase. The department must ensure that children's studies are not affected and that school operations continue smoothly.
