Patna: A significant number of students enrolled in government schools in Bihar are attending classes primarily to avail benefits under welfare schemes, with many leaving soon after receiving mid-day meals, according to officials from the state’s education department.
Data reviewed by the department indicates that nearly 35 percent of students enrol in government schools mainly to access benefits such as free uniforms, scholarships, bicycles and textbooks, rather than for regular academic learning.
Officials further noted that even among those who attend school, around 40 percent leave immediately after consuming the mid-day meal, leading to low classroom engagement and poor learning outcomes.
In a major crackdown on irregularities, the department has so far removed the names of around 20 lakh students found to be availing “dual benefits.” These students were enrolled in government schools to receive scheme benefits while actually studying in private institutions, resulting in misuse of public funds.
To curb such practices, the education department plans to link every student’s record with the APAAR ID (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry) and Aadhaar in the upcoming academic session. The move is aimed at implementing a “One Nation, One Student ID” system to prevent duplicate enrolments across schools.
Attendance challenges are particularly acute in rural areas, where schools witness a sharp drop in student presence during sowing and harvesting seasons. In some schools with enrolments of around 400 students, daily attendance reportedly falls to between 45 and 100 during peak agricultural periods.
Education experts warn that irregular attendance is directly affecting learning levels. Surveys by organisations such as ASER have shown that many Class 1 students struggle with basic letter recognition, while several Class 8 students are unable to perform simple arithmetic or recall multiplication tables.
Education Minister Sunil Kumar said the government is taking steps to improve attendance by engaging directly with parents. “Teachers are identifying students who remain absent after enrolment and are reaching out to their families to understand the reasons and encourage regular attendance,” he said.
Officials said the APAAR ID system will ensure that a student cannot be enrolled in multiple schools simultaneously, helping to streamline records and improve transparency in the education system.
The developments highlight ongoing challenges in Bihar’s school education system, where access to welfare schemes often overshadows the primary goal of learning.
