In the instance of Patna High Court, the education department of Bihar has started collecting data on the number of children of state-cadre officers of IAS, IPS, and other important sectors enrolled in the state-run government schools.
The purpose of the exercise is apparently to ensure that the official machinery takes steps to improve the condition of government schools in the state. A single-judge bench of the high court headed by Justice Anil Upadhyaya had recently sought details on the number of officers who have enrolled their children in government schools. Sanjay Kumar, additional chief secretary of, education department, has written to district magistrates and the superintendents of police of all 38 districts of Bihar to provide relevant details. The officers have to respond before August 4.
Chief Secretary Tripurari Sharan is likely to review the details of the database before it is submitted to the court. Kumar has also issued guidelines to all district education officers (DEOs) to help in preparing the data. Justice Upadhyaya, while hearing a petition on the removal of guest teachers, had remarked that unless top officers’ children study in government schools, there will be no visible improvement in the state education system.
