Bihar Tightens Rules for Private Schools: New Norms for Teachers, Facilities, and Accreditation

Patna, Bihar: The Bihar government has introduced strict new regulations for private schools, aiming to curb arbitrary practices and ensure better quality education for students. Under the revised rules, private schools will no longer receive government recognition easily, and minimum standards for infrastructure, staff, and student welfare have been clearly defined.

Stricter Accreditation Process: Before granting recognition, a three-member committee led by the District Education Officer (DEO) will conduct a thorough on-site inspection of the school’s infrastructure, facilities, and academic standards. Recognition will only be recommended if the school meets the prescribed SOP norms.

Teacher-Student Ratio Set: The Directorate of Primary Education has specified minimum teacher requirements for classes 1 to 5 based on enrollment. For instance, a class of 60 students must have two teachers, 60–90 students require three teachers, 91–120 students need four, and 121–200 students require five teachers plus a principal. For classes exceeding 200 students, the teacher-student ratio cannot exceed 1:40, excluding the principal.

Mandatory Facilities: Every teacher must have at least one classroom. Schools must provide separate toilets for boys and girls, safe drinking water, proper boundary walls, and a playground for students.

Academic Calendar and Hours: To ensure curriculum completion, minimum working days and teaching hours have been prescribed. Classes 1–5 must have at least 200 working days and 800 teaching hours annually, while classes 6–8 require 220 working days and 1,000 teaching hours per year.

The new regulations aim to improve accountability, provide better learning environments, and ensure that private schools operate in line with the Right to Education (RTE) Act.