Bihar school timings changed: Classes to function from 10 am to 4 pm

In a swift response to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's commitment to address concerns over lengthy school hours, the Education Department has announced a reduction in school timings across the state.

Effective immediately, schools will now operate for six hours daily, from 10 am to 4 pm, as per a circular issued late Tuesday by the Director of Secondary Education, Kanhaiya Prasad Srivastava.

The decision follows Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's assurance earlier in the day during a session at the state assembly.

His assurance came amid uproarious scenes in the assembly by opposition members, who entered the well of the House, protesting the "inhuman" timings.

"The timings of schools for academic activities should be from 10 am to 4 pm onlyâ€æ it should not be from 9 am to 5 pm," said Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, as reported by PTI.

Expressing prompt action, Kumar stated, "I will immediately call the competent officer of the department and will direct him to change the timings. You (opposition members) should have told me earlier. Now the new timings will be from 10 am to 4 pm."

TIMETABLE AND GUIDELINES

Last November, the Education Department introduced the revised timings, which officially took effect on December 1. Alongside outlining the new class hours, guidelines detailing disciplinary actions against teachers failing to adhere to the revised schedule were provided.

The reduction in school hours is anticipated to alleviate concerns regarding prolonged classroom sessions and promote a more balanced educational environment for students across Bihar.

(With PTI inputs)