Patna, October 4 (Daily Kiran) : Leaders from the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) are rallying teachers in Bihar to take a stand against the privatization and centralization of education. During a seminar titled “Save Education, Save the Nation” held at the IMA Hall in Patna on October 4, CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya emphasized the need for educators to engage actively in societal issues surrounding education.
Bhattacharya argued that the challenges facing education extend beyond the working conditions of teachers. He called for a broader debate and movement against ideological interference in the education system. He criticized the New Education Policy-2020, urging teachers and students to unite against its implications.
The seminar highlighted the deteriorating state of education in Bihar, which Bhattacharya described as a long-standing concern. He referred to the Nitish Kumar government’s initiative through the Education Reform Commission aimed at establishing a uniform school system, which has since been neglected. Similar inaction has occurred regarding the Land Reform Commission’s recommendations, he noted, stressing that education remains one of the most affected sectors in the state.
Bhattacharya pointed to various movements, including protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, farmers’ and workers’ rights, and student protests against paper leaks, indicating that issues like “Fix Our Schools” are gaining traction among school students in Bihar. He urged teachers to participate in these movements, particularly in light of the disenfranchisement of many during the recent Special Identification Registration process.
Recalling the educational and social equality philosophies of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Jyotirao Phule, Bhattacharya stressed the importance of ongoing campaigns throughout the year focused on education and social justice. Professor Rajiv Kunwar from Delhi University, who inaugurated the seminar, remarked on the increasing centralization of education under the new policy and called for education to become a central issue in the wider public movement.
Paliganj MLA Sandeep Saurabh highlighted the lack of proper pay and rights for government school teachers in Bihar, despite their official status. He urged all teacher organizations to unite for the protection of their rights and the education sector. Legislative Council member Shashi Yadav called for a collective voice against the privatization and commercial exploitation of education and to support ongoing student movements for educational rights.
The event saw participation from a large number of educators, employees, and activists committed to the education movement, including leaders from the Bihar State Unofficial Employees Federation and the Primary Teachers Union.
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