Sitamarhi: Government school teachers in Sitamarhi district will now have to take on an additional responsibility alongside their regular teaching work. According to a new order issued by the education department, teachers and school principals will be responsible for preventing stray dogs from entering school premises, especially after the midday meal is served. The decision has been taken with the aim of improving children’s safety and maintaining cleanliness in schools.
Under the new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), schools have been clearly instructed that no leftover food should remain anywhere on the campus after meals. Feeding stray dogs inside school premises has been strictly banned. Teachers will be required to closely monitor food waste and ensure that dogs do not gather near classrooms, kitchens or dining areas once the midday meal is over. The order follows concerns raised about hygiene and the safety of students.
Manish Kumar, district programme officer in charge of the midday meal scheme, said the instructions must be followed without exception. He said that even a small amount of leftover food should not be left behind, as it attracts stray animals. According to him, the safety of children and a clean school environment are the department’s top priorities, and negligence will not be tolerated.
The order also lays down strict timelines for cleanliness. Within 15 to 20 minutes after meals, classrooms, verandas, dining spaces, handwashing areas and kitchens must be thoroughly cleaned. All food waste must be collected in covered containers or bins and disposed of outside the school campus every day. Schools have been warned that action will be taken if garbage or leftover food is found lying in the open.
In addition, schools have been directed to install warning boards at their entrances stating that feeding stray dogs is prohibited. Instructions have also been given to put up fencing, mesh or doors around midday meal kitchens and dining areas so that dogs cannot enter. Education officials believe these steps will help reduce risks to children and encourage better discipline and hygiene in schools.
With this order, teachers are being asked to play a wider role in school management. Beyond teaching lessons, they will now also act as caretakers of school safety and cleanliness. The education department says the move will help create a safer and more disciplined learning environment for students across the district.
