Patna: Bihar government is set to introduce a long-awaited teacher transfer policy early next year as the state education department gives final shape to revised guidelines intended to streamline postings for schoolteachers across the state. The new rules are expected to benefit nearly six lakh teachers working in around 79,000 government schools.
Officials said the policy would be sent to the state cabinet for approval within a month. The move follows years of irregular and piecemeal transfer orders that have led to confusion, litigation and disruptions in teaching. More than one lakh teachers are currently seeking inter-district or intra-district transfers, but these will be processed only after the new policy comes into effect.
Over the past year, the education department transferred more than 1.25 lakh teachers, issuing several separate directives in the absence of a unified policy. The lack of clarity has resulted in numerous court cases, with officials acknowledging that the absence of robust rules has contributed to disputes and hindered academic continuity.
Teacher unions had earlier raised objections to certain provisions in the draft policy, delaying its finalisation ahead of the assembly elections. The department is now revising the rules after consultations and is preparing a consolidated framework that will apply to all categories of teachers, including legacy appointees, contract teachers, schoolteachers, principals and head teachers.
Applications for transfers will be accepted online once the notification is issued, replacing the earlier practice of submitting physical forms. Only digital applications will be considered. Under the new rules, teachers will not be eligible for transfer within the first five years of appointment, except in cases involving serious illness or other exceptional circumstances.
Number Of Government Schools In Bihar
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Primary schools: 40,270
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Middle schools: 27,903
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Basic schools: 391
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Secondary & higher secondary schools: 9,360
The education department has attempted to draft transfer guidelines several times since the appointment of contract teachers began in 2006, but previous policies were never fully implemented. Officials said the new consolidated rules aim to bring transparency, reduce litigation and ensure smoother functioning of schools.
