At least 1,400 ‘teachers’ nabbed government primary school jobs with fake papers. That’s how bad elementary education is in Bihar. Some 1,400 primary teachers have resigned, fearing government action over possessing fake education degrees, according to official sources.

More ‘teachers’ are expected to resign in the coming days after Patna High court ordered those possessing fake education degrees to quit their jobs voluntarily to avoid facing legal action.

“So far 1,400 teachers have resigned from service. More resignations are expected as we have fixed a deadline of July 8 for it. The final figure of those who resigned would be known then,” education department principal secretary R.K. Mahajan said.

Mahajan said action would be taken against teachers with fake certificates who do not resign within the stipulated period. FIRs would be lodged against them, their services would be terminated and the government will move for recovery of salary and other benefits given to them, he added.

The high court order came through a division bench of Chief Justice L. Narasimha Reddy and Sudhir Singh while hearing a bunch of public interest litigation (PIL) filed by activist Ranjit Pandit and others.

Bihar has over 3.5 lakh primary teachers and the PILs stated that a large number of them were appointed on the basis of fake papers. The state government has asked vigilance department to probe the education qualifications and has deputed eight deputy superintendents of police and 38 inspectors on the job.

The state government submitted before the high court that it would take at least three to four months to complete the task, which led to the court ordering a time frame under which action wouldn’t be taken against those who resign on their own.

  Bihar, education, Patna High Court, Primary school