Patna: The Bihar Education Department has reached a key stage in its ongoing teacher transfer and rationalisation exercise, releasing the provisional transfer list of around 42,000 surplus teachers across 26 districts.
A major highlight of the process is that teachers who had submitted school preferences for adjustment have been allotted schools from among the options they provided.
The provisional list will now be followed by an online objection process. Teachers will be able to report errors or raise concerns regarding their transfer details. The department will examine the objections before issuing the final transfer list.
Transfer process pending in 12 districts
The first phase of surplus-teacher adjustment covers 26 districts. Patna and 11 other districts are yet to complete this stage.
The Education Department is preparing to release provisional transfer lists for surplus teachers in these remaining districts as well.
The move is aimed at completing the adjustment exercise within the prescribed timeline and ensuring a more balanced distribution of teachers across government schools.
Teachers were asked to choose 30 schools
As part of the adjustment process, each surplus teacher was asked to provide a list of 30 preferred schools.
The department used these preferences while processing transfers, with teachers being allotted schools from their submitted choices where possible.
According to the department, around 1.02 lakh teachers are currently classified as surplus across government schools in Bihar. The figure includes teachers teaching Classes 1–5, 6–8, 9–10 and 11–12.
The large number of surplus teachers has led the department to implement the rationalisation exercise in phases, with the objective of balancing teacher availability between schools.
More than 71,000 teachers applied
Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari had said on August 28 that 71,151 surplus teachers had submitted online applications for adjustment.
The applications were submitted through the e-Shikshakosh portal.
Around 37,000 teachers had reportedly received schools among their first to fifth preferences. A significant number of these teachers are women.
Teachers who have received their preferred schools are now awaiting the final list, while those who identify discrepancies in the provisional list can raise objections during the designated window.
Mutual transfer process also underway
Alongside surplus-teacher adjustment, the Education Department has also been processing applications for mutual transfers.
Under this process, teachers who mutually agree to exchange their schools can seek transfer in accordance with the prescribed rules.
The department will now move towards the next stage of its transfer exercise, with applications for general transfers scheduled to begin on September 17.
All transfer cases targeted for completion by October 31
The Education Department has set October 31 as the target for completing all transfer-related cases.
The process includes surplus-teacher adjustment, mutual transfers and general transfers.
Once these stages are completed, the government expects a clearer picture of teacher deployment across Bihar’s government schools.
For now, the release of the provisional list for around 42,000 teachers across 26 districts is a major development. Teachers will next be watching for the online objection process and final transfer list, while those in Patna and the other 11 pending districts await their provisional lists.
