Patna: Parents of students from classes 9 to 12 in Bihar’s East Champaran district have been asked to submit an affidavit – a sworn legal statement – confirming that their children are attending school every day. This instruction has come directly from the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB), which has issued a formal order to all government schools in the district. The step is being taken to ensure that students maintain the required 75% attendance to be eligible for important academic opportunities.
The affidavit, which schools are distributing to parents, must be filled out with key information including the parent’s name, the student’s name, their mobile number, the school’s name, the class, and a signature. Once completed, the school will collect the affidavit and send it back to the board. Officials say this is not just a formality – it’s a serious move to hold parents accountable if their child is not attending school regularly. The Bihar Board has made it clear: if attendance is found to be below the required level, the parent will be held responsible.
The consequences for poor attendance are severe. If a student’s attendance falls below 75%, they may not be allowed to sit in the board examinations for Class 10 and Class 12. Not only that, but they may also lose out on government benefits and financial incentives that are usually offered to students who perform well in exams. For example, students who pass with first division marks are often given cash rewards by the state. From 2024 onwards, only those students who meet the attendance requirement will be eligible for such benefits.
District Education Officer Rajan Kumar Giri has supported the move, saying that regular attendance is necessary for good academic performance and overall discipline. He explained that the state government wants to make sure that all students are getting the full benefit of their education, and this can only happen if they are present in the classroom. “This system is being introduced so that both parents and schools take student attendance more seriously,” Giri said.
