Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, October 17
Bihar government on Monday asked the Vice Chancellors of all the universities in the state to rusticate the students who abstain from the classes for three consecutive days.
According to a circular issued by the director of higher education, Dr Rekha Kumari, the absentee students should be removed from the classes and even their registration with the university be cancelled. She has directed no student with less than 75 per cent attendance be allowed to appear at the examinations.
Meanwhile, in the last three weeks, following surprise checks in the schools by education department officials, over 1.7 million students were rusticated after found absent for 15 days.
Additional Chief Secretary of education department K K Pathak who led the teams of officials in surprise checks also found over 7.000 teachers absent. Their salaries have been withheld. According to officials in the education department, highest over two lakh students have been rusticated in East Champaran district in the last 20 days, 85,000 in Patna and 69,000 in Rohtas.
Officials said students were taking advantage of the different incentives, including mid-day meal, free cycles, free books, free dress and scholarships for students enrolled in class 9 to 12 standards. The students are given money to purchase bicycles, uniforms and free text books. Students of weaker sections get Rs 1.000 per year as scholarships.
The students get themselves enrolled in the government schools and also in private coaching centres simultaneously. They prefer attending the coaching centres like the teachers.
To discourage students and teachers from attending coaching centres, education department has asked the district magistrates to ensure centres were allowed to open during the evening hours, after closure of the schools.
State government in its annual budget allocated Rs 50,000 crore on education sector.
