In a major move aimed at strengthening the administrative structure of government schools in Bihar, the Education Department has begun the process of appointing nearly 5,971 newly selected headmasters across the state’s upgraded higher secondary schools. These appointments are based on selections and recommendations made by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC).

The process is already underway and the department has set a target to complete the placement of all headmasters by next week, a senior official from the Directorate of Secondary Education confirmed.

BPSC-Selected Headmasters to Be Deployed Across Bihar

These new appointments are expected to significantly improve the management and quality of education in Bihar’s Utkramit Uchcha Madhyamik Vidyalayas (Upgraded Higher Secondary Schools), many of which have been functioning without permanent headmasters for years.

According to senior officials, the candidates who have been recommended by BPSC have already undergone counseling at their respective regional Deputy Directors of Education (DDEs). Each candidate has been allotted a division (Pramandal) and a district, based on a system of preference options submitted earlier.

Transparent Counseling and Preference-Based Allotment

The placement process has been designed to be transparent, systematic, and based on merit-cum-preference. Initially, selected candidates were required to provide three preferences each for divisions and districts. Based on availability and merit ranking, these preferences were used to allocate postings.

Once the district-level allotments were finalized, the Education Department initiated the second phase of the preference collection process. In this round, each recommended candidate was asked to choose five blocks (prakhands) within their allotted district, through the e-Shiksha Kosh portal.

The candidates were able to log in using their official IDs and submit five block preferences, which are now being used to determine final school postings.

Local Body Teachers and Private School Teachers Included

The selection pool for these headmaster posts includes two major groups:

1. Local Body Teachers (appointed under Bihar’s Panchayati Raj or Urban Local Body recruitment systems), and

2. Teachers working in CBSE, ICSE, and BSEB-affiliated private schools who were found eligible for the headmaster role under the set qualification and experience criteria.

Both groups were given equal opportunity to submit their five block preferences online. Teachers from private institutions were asked to upload experience certificates and other relevant documents via the department’s software system to validate their service history.

Deadline for Block Preferences Now Closed

The window for submitting block-level preferences has now officially closed. The Education Department is currently analyzing the data and finalizing the placement lists. Once the mapping is complete, appointment letters will be issued, and candidates will receive their formal posting orders.

This final stage is expected to wrap up within the next 7 days, barring any administrative delays.

Why This Appointment Drive Matters

The lack of regular headmasters in many of Bihar’s government schools has often been blamed for poor school management, falling academic standards, and inadequate staff supervision. This latest appointment drive aims to address these issues head-on.

Education experts say that the deployment of over 5,900 headmasters will play a critical role in improving the overall academic environment, enforcing discipline, and ensuring better implementation of government education schemes such as:

• Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan

• Mid-Day Meal Scheme

• Digital Learning Initiatives

• Student Attendance Monitoring

Focus on Digitization and Accountability

What sets this process apart from previous appointment drives is the digitization and automation involved at every stage:

• Online counseling through the e-Shiksha Kosh portal

• Real-time data entry of preferences

• Document verification via centralized systems

• Automated mapping of available vacancies

This not only improves transparency but also reduces manual errors and favoritism, which have plagued teacher postings in the past.

A Step Towards Educational Reform in Bihar

With this development, Bihar is poised to take a significant step forward in its school education reforms. The appointment of qualified and trained headmasters is expected to:

• Improve learning outcomes

• Enhance school leadership

• Boost teacher performance monitoring

• Streamline administrative processes

Senior education department officials believe that this initiative, once completed, will strengthen the backbone of Bihar’s secondary education system.

What Comes Next?

Once the placements are finalized and headmasters receive their appointment letters, a brief orientation program may be conducted to acquaint them with their roles, digital tools, and reporting protocols. Additionally, efforts are being made to ensure that each school has the required infrastructure and teaching staff to support the new leadership.

The Education Department also plans to introduce a performance appraisal system for headmasters to ensure accountability and continual improvement in school performance.

The appointment of 5,971 headmasters across Bihar’s upgraded higher secondary schools marks a turning point in the state’s educational administration. By ensuring that each school has a competent leader at the helm, the government is sending a strong message about its commitment to quality education.

As the Education Department races against time to complete the placement process, the teaching community and school students across the state wait with optimism and anticipation.