Last Updated: July 2026
The Bihar government is reviewing several school education initiatives introduced in Uttar Pradesh as part of its efforts to improve learning outcomes and support the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The exercise follows official interactions between education authorities of both states, including a study visit by Bihar officials and discussions on classroom practices, school administration and digital governance.
According to government statements, the review covers foundational learning, teacher management, digital monitoring and school infrastructure. Rather than adopting a single model, Bihar is examining practices that could be adapted to its own administrative and educational needs.
Verification Note: Some initiatives discussed below have been announced or are under implementation. Readers should refer to the latest notifications issued by the Bihar Education Department for updated operational guidelines and timelines.
Reform Areas Under Review
|
Reform Area |
Uttar Pradesh Initiative |
Bihar’s Focus |
|
Foundational Learning |
Graded Learning Programme (Teaching at the Right Level) |
Catch-up Learning and Mission Daksh |
|
Early Grade Education |
NIPUN Bharat initiatives |
Teaching Learning Material (TLM) kits |
|
School Administration |
Digital Registers |
e-Shikshakosh attendance system |
|
School Structure |
Composite School Model |
Review of integrated schools |
|
Teacher Management |
Digital governance |
Recruitment and transfer reforms |
Strengthening Foundational Learning
A major area under review is Uttar Pradesh’s Graded Learning Programme, based on the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approach. Instead of grouping children only by grade, the programme focuses on their actual learning levels in reading and mathematics, allowing teachers to provide targeted support.
Bihar has announced initiatives such as Catch-up Learning and Mission Daksh to strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy among academically weaker children. According to government announcements, teachers will mentor small groups of learners to improve basic skills in Hindi, English and Mathematics. The measures are intended to address learning gaps that became more evident after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Early Learning and Classroom Support
Bihar is also examining Uttar Pradesh’s implementation of the NIPUN Bharat Mission, which aims to achieve foundational literacy and numeracy by Grade 3.
As part of its announced plans, the state intends to distribute Teaching Learning Material (TLM) kits to Grade 1 and Grade 2 classrooms. These kits are expected to include activity-based learning resources and visual teaching aids. Structured monthly Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTMs) have also been proposed to encourage regular communication between schools and families regarding children’s academic progress.
Digital Governance and Teacher Management
Digital school administration is another area being reviewed.
Bihar has introduced the e-Shikshakosh mobile application for teacher attendance. According to government announcements, digital attendance records are expected to become part of the teacher attendance verification process, with implementation taking place in phases.
Teachers’ organisations have raised concerns about technical issues, internet connectivity in rural areas and operational challenges during the rollout. These concerns have prompted discussions on improving the system while maintaining administrative transparency.
|
Initiative |
Purpose |
Current Status* |
|
e-Shikshakosh |
Digital attendance monitoring |
Under implementation |
|
Geo-fenced attendance |
Attendance verification |
Operational in phases |
|
Online attendance records |
Administrative transparency |
Subject to official guidelines |
*Status may change based on future government notifications.
Administrative Measures
The Bihar government has also announced measures aimed at improving the implementation of school reforms. These include reducing non-academic duties assigned to teachers, strengthening recruitment through the Teacher Recruitment Examination (TRE-4), introducing an online teacher transfer system and addressing pending salary-related matters for certain categories of teachers. The operational details and timelines remain subject to official notifications.
Policy Significance
The review reflects Bihar’s effort to evaluate established practices before adapting them to local requirements. National policy documents, including NEP 2020, emphasise foundational learning, effective teacher support and stronger school governance. The long-term impact of these reforms will depend on implementation, teacher training, infrastructure and continuous monitoring.
Official Sources
This article is based on publicly available information from the Bihar Education Department, Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Department, Ministry of Education, National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, NIPUN Bharat Mission and related government communications, supported by reporting from established news organisations.
Editorial Disclaimer
The information in this article is based on official announcements and credible reports available as of July 2026. Policies, implementation timelines and administrative guidelines may change. Readers should verify the latest circulars, notifications and updates issued by the Bihar Education Department and other relevant government authorities before relying on specific implementation details.