“While growing up, each child spends most of their time at schools. His or her interaction with teachers and friends is more than with their parents. So, it is the responsibility of the teacher to make sure that their future is bright. They grow up into good and educated human beings who can contribute to the development of society,” says IAS officer Dr. S Siddharth says,
Dr. Siddharth, who is an engineer by education and a pilot by passion, has recently taken up the charge as Additional Chief Secretary, Education Bihar. After his arrival, not only is the department coming up with constructive changes, but it is also running smoothly after the havoc earlier this year.
At Indian Masterminds, we spoke with Dr. S Siddharth about his vision for reviving education in Bihar, a state once renowned for its rich educational heritage. He emphasized, “Education is fundamental for everyone and should not be compromised. It is not just the responsibility of teachers or the education department, but also of society, to ensure no child is deprived of education. Bihar has always been a center of education, and it can return to that esteemed position. This is achievable if we all work together towards it.”
THERE IS A LIMIT TO POLICING
In recent months, teachers and their attendance have been making headlines. The meticulous monitoring of teachers’ arrival times had led to various forms of corruption. However, Dr. Siddharth has nearly eliminated such monitoring with the launch of the E-Shiksha Kosh app. Now, teachers can mark their attendance through the app, allowing their presence to be monitored remotely.
Although the app is still undergoing some changes, Dr. Siddharth is optimistic that all practical issues related to the app, location, or network will be resolved within a month. He says that with the app, there will be no need to chase after each teacher to check their timings. Everything will be digital, enabling anyone to see how many teachers are present, how many are late, and how many are on leave.
Emphasizing that teachers should not be policed, Dr. Siddharth says, “In an ideal situation, each teacher should be self-motivated. I don’t believe in policing the teachers, but when there is a derailment, we need to address it. There is a limit to policing. We can check what time they are coming or going, but we cannot monitor their intent. I always remind them that they are doing the most responsible work, and it is important that they do it efficiently.”
EDUCATION IS THE PRIORITY
Dr. Siddharth emphasizes that during school hours, every student should be at school, whether it is a private or government institution. It is the duty of society, local leaders, government workers, and every individual to ensure that every child attends school. An illiterate child or person cannot contribute positively to society.
When asked about the education department becoming a hot topic in recent months, Dr. Siddharth said, “Students and their education are the priority. Everything else builds around that. If we have students, we need teachers, study materials, desks, water, mid-day meals, and other essentials. All these things are important, and a system is already in place. Our role is to ensure the system works properly, not to make new rules. The department acts as a guardian, following the Right to Education policy and the New Education Policy.”
Dr. Siddharth is working towards making the department more digitally oriented, believing that it will simplify processes for everyone. He is hopeful that in the coming month, issues related to teachers and students will be resolved, paving the way for a brighter future for the students.
