Bihar: Proposed Transfer Policy Raises Hopes for 34,540 Primary School Teachers

Patna: In a significant development for the education sector, the proposed transfer and posting policy of the Education Department includes provisions for the inter-district transfer of teachers on the old pay scale. This policy change has ignited hope among the 34,540 primary school teachers of the district cadre who have long awaited such opportunities.

Last year in June, the inter-district transfer for this category of teachers was briefly possible. District Education Offices had collected applications from the concerned teachers. However, the process was halted due to the introduction of the new transfer and posting policy.

According to sources within the Education Department, the department has given in-principle consent to the draft of the new policy prepared by a designated committee. An insider revealed that crucial decisions regarding the transfer policy will be finalized at the departmental level by next week.

The inter-district transfer for teachers on the old pay scale in elementary schools was initially planned for June 2023. District Education Offices had collected applications from teachers, including those appointed before the planning under the old pay scale. These applications were then forwarded to the Directorate of Primary Education.

The application process required teachers to submit a variety of documents, including their service book, appointment letter, salary slip, preference declaration, attested copies of educational certificates, and two self-attested color photographs. Despite the fixed deadline, applications continued to arrive from multiple districts, which were also duly entered.

The policy stipulated that only cases of the same subject matter would be considered for transfer. For instance, an assistant teacher specializing in Urdu could only be transferred inter-district if there was a corresponding position for an Urdu language teacher in another district.

A department official confirmed that fresh applications will now be taken from teachers on the old pay scale, ensuring that the process moves forward smoothly.