Patna: In one of the largest compliance drives in recent years, the Bihar education department has ordered the cancellation of recognition for 4,602 private schools for failing to meet mandatory requirements under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. The schools did not upload details of their enrolment and intake capacity on the official portal within the prescribed deadline, prompting the state to initiate strict action.
All recognised private institutions had been directed to submit updated information on admissions and resource capacity by January 25. However, officials said thousands of schools failed to comply, raising concerns over transparency and accountability. District education officers have now been instructed to seek explanations from school managements and begin proceedings against those found in violation.
The department also reported that approval-related cases for 3,014 private schools remain pending on the portal. Authorities have been asked to resolve these matters quickly, with a deadline of February 14 for district officials to complete scrutiny. The directive was issued by additional chief secretary Dr B Rajender, who called for time-bound action to ensure adherence to RTE norms.
Delays have also surfaced in the verification of admissions for the 2026–27 academic session. Of the 65,505 applications received online, more than half 34,374 are still pending at the block education officer level. The department has warned that officers responsible for delays could face disciplinary measures if verification is not completed promptly.
The review further highlighted that reimbursement payments to private schools under the RTE scheme depend on proper verification of enrolled students. Districts are required to submit inspection reports before funds are released. Authorities that have not uploaded their reports have been told to do so immediately to avoid disruption in payments.
Officials said the crackdown is aimed at strengthening oversight of private institutions and ensuring that only compliant schools continue to operate. The move, they added, is intended to protect students’ rights and bring greater transparency to the implementation of the education law across Bihar.
