In a recent cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday, 26 December 2023, the cabinet approved a significant move. The approval involves granting approximately 3.5 lakh contractual teachers employed across various government schools in Bihar the status of state employees.
The proposal was initially presented by the State Education Department, which has now received approval during this cabinet session.
As part of the pledge to regularise the state’s four lakh contractual teachers, the Education Department has formulated necessary regulations. Contractual teachers seeking government employment must pass a competency exam administered by the Bihar School Examination Board. Importantly, those who have previously cleared the Teacher Recruitment Exam (TRE) conducted by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) will be exempt from this examination.
The specific government agency responsible for conducting these examinations will be determined shortly.
To ensure a fair chance for the teachers, they will be given three attempts to successfully pass the competency tests. Those unable to meet the required standards will face decisions regarding their status by the Bihar government at a later stage.
The salary structure for all the teachers will remain unchanged temporarily. However, any revisions will be made in accordance with the guidelines set by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) after the successful completion of the competency tests.
In the same meeting, the Cabinet greenlit Bihar’s latest tourism policy, envisioning the creation of top-tier infrastructure for tourism within the state. Financial support will be extended to boost establishments such as hotels, restaurants and resorts in key tourist destinations. Additionally, provisions for aid are outlined to facilitate the development of tourism-related facilities along highways, including camping sites and adventure sports amenities.