Teacher Unions Raise Concerns Over New Transfer and Posting Policy in Bihar, Political Debate Intensifies

Patna: The newly introduced teacher transfer and posting policy by the Bihar Education Department has sparked objections from various teacher unions, despite the long-standing demand for such a policy. Teacher organizations have raised concerns over several provisions, calling them discriminatory and impractical, while political parties have begun to weigh in on the controversy.

The Bihar School Teacher Union has outlined several key objections to the policy:

Posting Restrictions for Male Teachers: The policy disallows male teachers from being posted within their home subdivisions. Teacher unions argue that in districts with only one subdivision, this restriction is unreasonable. Moreover, they question why the rule applies only to male teachers, while female teachers can be posted in their home panchayats.

Urban Women Teachers: The policy states that women teachers cannot be posted within their home urban bodies. Unions claim this rule is unfair to women living in urban areas, who are being sent to remote villages unnecessarily.

Teachers with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses: The policy prevents these teachers from being posted in their home panchayats or urban areas, a restriction that unions find particularly unjust.

Mandatory Transfers Every Five Years: One of the most contentious issues is the mandatory transfer provision every five years. Teacher unions have called this unprecedented, with fears that it could lead to corruption and instability in the system.

Additionally, unions argue that the policy disproportionately benefits teachers from neighboring states like Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, allowing them to secure urban postings while Bihar’s teachers are assigned rural areas.

Amit Vikram, President of the Bihar School Teacher Union, criticized the government for not consulting teacher unions before finalizing the policy. He warned that without further discussions and amendments, the matter could escalate to the High Court, potentially halting the implementation of the transfer policy.

Political Reactions:

The issue has quickly become a political battleground, with opposition parties taking aim at the government. RJD Spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari stated that the policy is unfair to teachers and accused the government of delaying its implementation. He recalled that during the Mahagathbandhan government under Tejashwi Yadav, teachers were treated fairly, and the transfer policy was formulated at that time. Tiwari urged the government to consult with teacher unions to develop a more effective and fair policy.

On the other hand, JDU MLC Neeraj Kumar defended the policy, stating that no official teacher organizations have formally objected to it. He praised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's stance on transparency and merit-based appointments, emphasizing that the new policy aims to provide benefits to female and disabled teachers, among others.

Congress MLA Pratima Kumari criticized the Education Department for experimenting with such an important sector, stressing that decisions affecting the future of children should be made with careful consideration.

Meanwhile, BJP Spokesperson Kuntal Krishna highlighted that the policy was developed after thorough discussions and aimed to meet the needs of teachers who genuinely require transfers. He urged any teachers facing difficulties to communicate their concerns through appropriate channels.

The new transfer policy is likely to face further scrutiny in the coming days as discussions between teacher unions, government officials, and political leaders continue.