Patna: The Bihar Education Department is preparing to reintroduce half-day schooling on Saturdays in government schools across the state, according to officials familiar with the discussions. The revised schedule is expected to take effect from June.
Sources in the department said an official order could be issued by May 31 after final discussions on school timings and weekly schedules. The proposal was reviewed during a recent high-level departmental meeting, where officials reportedly reached an agreement in principle on restoring the half-day system.
The move is expected to apply to primary, middle and secondary government schools across Bihar.
Official Announcement Expected
Officials said the department is currently working on implementation details, including revised school timings and operational guidelines.
Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari is expected to make a formal announcement once the proposal receives final approval.
According to department sources, the government views the measure as part of broader efforts to improve administrative efficiency and balance academic workloads.
Relief for Teachers and Students
The proposed change is likely to affect nearly 575,000 government school teachers and millions of students across the state.
Teacher associations had repeatedly raised concerns over long working hours and administrative pressure under the existing six-day schedule. Several groups had demanded the restoration of shorter Saturday sessions.
Officials said the revised system could help reduce stress for both teachers and students while improving time management within schools.
Administrative Work and Academic Planning
Education officials said a half-day on Saturdays would allow teachers additional time for tasks such as checking answer sheets, preparing lesson plans and conducting weekly academic reviews.
The department believes this could improve classroom preparation and reduce pending administrative work during the week.
Focus on Student Wellbeing
Officials also cited student wellbeing as a factor behind the proposal. Continuous full-day schooling throughout the week had reportedly led to fatigue among younger students, particularly in primary classes.
A shorter school day on Saturdays is expected to provide students with more time for rest, recreational activities and co-curricular engagement.
Support for Rural Teachers
Teachers posted in remote and rural areas are also expected to benefit from the revised schedule.
Department officials said a half-day arrangement would make weekend travel easier for teachers who commute long distances or return to their hometowns after school hours.
Final Decision Expected by May 31
The Education Department is expected to finalise the proposal before the end of May in preparation for the new academic session.
If approved, the revised Saturday timetable is likely to come into force across Bihar government schools from June onwards.
