The Bihar government has disenrolled a whopping 3.32 lakh students from its primary and upper primary schools for remaining absent for more than 15 days at a stretch.

The numbers may increase further in the coming days.

The decision has been taken on the directions of the education department additional chief secretary K.K. Pathak to expel students who have not been attending classes for a long time during the ongoing daily inspection of schools. A large number of pupils were found absent and were warned to mend their ways. Those who did not do so were asked to give an undertaking that they would attend the classes regularly.

“We have removed the names of around 3.32 lakh students from the rolls of schools across the state. They were absent for long periods and did not give an undertaking that they would attend the classes regularly. With around 40,000 schools being inspected on a daily basis, the number could increase further,” education department assistant director Ramesh Chandra told The Telegraph.

Bihar has over 85,000 primary, upper primary, secondary and senior secondary government schools in which around 4 lakh teachers are employed. A whopping 2.5 crore students are enrolled in them.

Talking about the reasons behind striking off the names of students from the admission register, Chandra pointed out that many of them were enrolled in two or more schools to take advantage of various government schemes.

The school education policy and planning, facilities and incentives to attract students to classrooms depend on enrolment figures. Apart from infrastructure and human resources, these also include funds allocated for mid-day meals (MDM), school uniform, bicycles, and books.

“Another factor behind removing the names from the rolls is that many students have taken admission in government and private schools at the same time. They attend classes in private schools,” Chandra added.

Education department officials pointed out that the disenrolment of students did not mean that they would not be able to study further. “In fact, they would be readmitted on the undertaking of their parents and their willingness to attend the classes regularly,” a senior officer said.

The education department recently ordered that only those students who have 75 per cent attendance would be allowed to write the Class X board exams. Those who stay absent continuously for three days will have to submit an application to the principal about the reasons for their absence.