DM Makes Surprise Visit to Punpun School, Finds Not a Single Student in School When Needed

Making a surprise visit on Friday, District Magistrate Thiyagarajan S.M. observed an enormous shortage of students at Shri Lal Bahadur Higher Secondary School at Punpun block, and it had grave doubts regarding the discipline of students as well as school management.

In his tour, the DM witnessed a gigantic number of students absent from their schools. On closer observation, it was found that most of them were attending private coaching classes in regular school hours—a violation that not only disqualifies the official schooling system but also raises questions about the authority of school administrations in ensuring students' attendance.

Acting swiftly, the DM ordered the re-deployment of the Block Education Officer (BEO) and made the officer personally responsible for the lack of monitoring and enforcement of student attendance. He also ordered the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of Masaurhi to conduct regular inspections school to school in the area to impose regulation and discourage such occurrence in the future.

This episode has again placed in the limelight the increasing trend among Bihar students—and among other regions of India—of giving more priority to private coaching over standard school education. Despite government initiatives to enhance the quality of teacher availability and facilities in government schools, the popularity of coaching centers indicates towards issues of a deeper nature like the perceived inefficacy of classroom pedagogy, teacher non-availability, and absence of accountability.

The quick action of the district administration conveys one loud message to education administrators and institutions as well: no monkeying around with the academic integrity of students, and school timing has to be held as inviolate.

As Bihar strives to enhance its education sector, this incident highlights the need for an urgent overhaul of the system, greater supervision, and improved communication between schools, students, and parents to build a new faith in the public school system.