Nitish Kumar tried to return the education system of the Bihar, after he became the CM in 2005. He provided bicycles and uniform to girls, gave scholarship to 10^th, 12^th and undergraduate students. Yet, 18 years later attendance in primary and upper primary school is below 60 per cent, which is still far below the national average of around 72 per cent.

The state is  once again witnessing a wave of revolutionary changes, thanks to an IAS officer who is often labelled cynical but honest & effective. He is KK Pathak, known for his no-nonsense & fearless work. 

He joined as Additional Chief Secretary Education,  in June 2023 and during last seven months he has endured recruitment of  around 2 lakh new teachers. Besides, he is working on better infrastructure, better attendance, quality of education. He however, has been locking horns with other officers on issues close to his heart. 

COMMAND AND CONTROL CENTRE 

The command & control cell is the nerve center of Mr. Pathak’s working styling. It is no less than the ‘OP’ room for any crisis. It works like a grievance redressal cell receiving over 250 calls everyday, mostly having complaints regarding the infrastructure of their school, quality of mid-day meal, teacher’s absence and others. This center has given an opportunity to the public to reach the government machinery. 

In a media interaction, Mr. KK Pathak had said that if labourers’ children will become labourer then what is the use of  government. The control center is providing better facility & opportunity in government school. 

WHO IS KK PATHAK 

Born in 1968 in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, KK Pathak has a Master’s degree in Economics. Following his father GS Pathak’s legacy he cleared UPSC CSE with AIR 40 and joined as IAS officer. He started his career from Katihar in 1990 and was posted as DM in 1996. In between he also served as SDO, Barh (Patna). 

Known as the favourite bureaucrat of CM Nitish Kumar, Mr. Pathak also served as MD, Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority. He was also made CMD of Bihar Housing Board. In 2010, he went to Delhi on central deputation. However, CM’s request, he returned in 2015. In 2021, he was made Additional Chief Secretary of Excise and Liquor Prohibition Department. 

REGULAR MONITORING 

This 1990-batch IAS officer is known for its regular inspection. In the last few months, Mr. Pathak himself has inspected many schools across Bihar – from Vaishali, Sheohar, and Khagaria to Banka, Sitamarhi, and Bhagalpur. 

Without revealing his identity  a school headmaster in Pupri, Sitamarhi told Indian Masterminds, “It might be fear but I am glad that teacher’s are coming on time. Even in the winters when school was closed for students not a single teacher missed out on attendance. No body is willing to take a risk. However, there is downside. Most of the teachers are treating this a phase which will end with Mr. Pathak’s tenure.”

The officer has also ordered district collectors and education officers for regular monitoring of teachers and student’s presence. The routine and surprise inspections to check attendance has resulted in 75+ attendance in schools as compared to -50% in July last year. Similarly, the number of teacher’s absent without approval has come down to around 116 as compared to 588 in July. 

The inspection is not limited to attendance but also focuses on the quality of midday meals and status of washroom facilities and basic infrastructure in the school. Education department is also working on app for the attendance of students & teachers. The system is being installed phase wise and targets to cover all the 72,633 schools in coming months. 

MISSION DAKSHA 

During his inspections Mr. Pathak realized that students are not able to write properly and are weak in basic Maths. To rectify this he has started an initiative called Mission Daksha for student of class 3 to 8 struggling in various subjects. Under this, the teachers have to select five students each and have teach them extra hours after school. These student will appear in an exam held in April this. If any of these students fail then action will be taken against the teacher. A district level committee is held which include the DM to Monitor this initiative. 

He  had also barred the teachers from joining any union and banned coaching classes from operating during school hours.