Education in Bihar

The Ancient Period

The appreciation of the importance of education and educational practices in Bihar
date back to the period of Gautama Buddha and Mahavir in the 5th century BC.
During that period, the Buddhist and Jainist education started in parallel with the
traditional Vedic education. The Buddhist education was based on the Ashtangic
(eight-fold) Path, and its distinguishing features were: the introduction of a new
curriculum, Pali & Prakrit, combining day schools with residential education and
education through the medium of the language of the people. No doubt, both the
Buddhists and the Jains used education to spread the teachings of their masters.
However, their educational systems were not confined to religious and spiritual
themes but were also closely related to life. A very important feature of these
educational systems was that the door of education was open to all.

And also in the ancient Bihar was a major center of learning,

teaching and research. There were two world-renowned
universities i.e. the Nalanda University and the Vikramshila
University. The Nalanda University was famed for providing
education in Political Science and Economics, while Vikramshila
known for education in Tantra. Unfortunately in medieval period
this system of education destroyed by invading armies. Later
British ruled the country and the area remain neglected.

It was the later part of British rule in India when Bihar saw some
revival in education as the British established a University at
Patna and some other institutes for higher education, like Science
College, Patna, Prince of Wales Medical College (Now Patna
Medical College and Hospital), and Bihar Engineering College
(Now National Institute of Technology, Patna). However
educational growth in the state did not stepped up further as post
independence leaders from Bihar failed in establishing
educational institutions in the state.

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Present scenario

Education is the heart and blood for one's culture. It is only education which helps
in the total growth of a person. All the developed communities of the world have
a strong educational background. But the state Bihar shows a very low
performance in this point.

Presently, Bihar education ranks lowest in the literacy rate

among the Indian cities. Patna holds the highest literacy rate in
Bihar with 63.82%, Kishangang ranks the lowest with 31.02%.
This is because the educational institutes are not of a good
quality. As a result a lots are needed to be done so that the
education scenario in Bihar can be developed.

It is a fact that prosperity would not come without education. So

the present condition have to be improved. Of late, the central
Government as well as the state Government have taken lots of
projects in hand to restore the prevailing condition

School Education in Bihar

Bihar still follows the same system of schooling that prevailed during the time of
British rule in India. There are approximately 71,832 schools in Bihar which are
either run by the government or by private organizations. The state-run schools in
Bihar are administered by the state government. One can also come across district
schools in Bihar. The government schools in the state are affiliated to the Bihar
School Examination Board. However, most of the private schools in Bihar are
either affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) or Council
for the Indian School Certificate Examination board. Hindi and English are the
primary languages for instruction in Bihar schools. There is a great demand for
more schools and institutes to facilitate the Bihar education system. Kendriya
Vidyalaya Khagaul Patna, St Joseph School Bhagalpur, Kendriya Vidyalaya
Danapur Patna and Don Bosco Academy Patna are some of the popular schools in
Bihar including school-chains and Missionary Schools run by
Christian Missionaries as well as Madrasas, or schools run by
Muslim clerics has increased. The school-chains and Missionary
Schools run by Christian Missionaries are considered as some of
the best schools in the state

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Higher Education in Bihar

The higher education scenario of Bihar is completely prevailed by

universities in Bihar. All these universities offer wide range of
courses to students who are ambitious of pursuing higher studies.
Apart from offering conventional degree programs, the
universities in Bihar have come up with various career oriented
courses. Along with under graduate, post graduate, doctoral and
post doctoral programs students can also obtain wide range of
certificate and diploma courses, exclusively for job purpose.
There is also agricultural, medical science and Arabic and Persian
study universities among the Bihar Universities. Some of the
universities in Bihar are among the oldest educational institutes
of India and occupy significant positions in the history of Indian
Education. Here we are providing you with relevant details about
universities in Bihar.

Universities in Bihar

1. Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University,

Muzaffarpur, Bihar

2. Bhupendra Narayan Mandal University, Madhepura,

Bihar

3. Bihar Yoga Bharati (Deemed University), Ganga

Darshan Fort Munge Bihar

4. BRA Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, Bihar

5. Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sheikhpura
Patna, Bihar
6. Jai Prakash Vishwavidyalaya Chapra, Bihar

7. Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University

Kameshwar Nagar Darbhnaga, Bihar

8. Lalit Narayan Mithila University Darbhanga, Bihar

9. Magadh University Bodh Gaya, Bihar

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 10. Maulana Mazharul Haque Arabic and Persian University,
Patna

11. Nalanda Open University Reshmi Complex, 7th Floor

Kidwaipuri Patna Bihar

12. Patna University, Patna, Bihar

13. Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur,

Bihar

14. Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University Bhagalpur, Bihar

15. Veer Kunwar Singh University Arrah, Bihar

Apex Organizations in Bihar

The apex organizations in Bihar play quite crucial role in

developing the complete educational status of the state of Bihar.
This is a common aspect about all system, that if resources
cannot be administered properly, then proper purpose of that
system and organizations related to it cannot be served. The apex
organizations in Bihar are properly administering resources of the
whole education system and that’s why since last few year
educational scenario of Bihar has changed remarkably.

The apex organizations in Bihar controls a wide range of

educational curriculum, starting from school level education and
organizing education to harmonizing higher study system in the
state and at the same time proper administration of various
public examinations. New horizons have opened up in the field of
technical education in Bihar after establishment of Technical
Education department. So, it can be said that the altogether
educational standard of the state is quite encouraging and apex
organizations in Bihar have a great role to play behind such
development.

Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination

(BCECE)

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The Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board
(BCECEB) was established by Government of Bihar for
administration of Competitive Entrance Examination in the State.
The BCEB is established under the Bihar Combined Entrance
Competitive Examination Act 1995. At present the Board
Conducts following entrance examinations.

• Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination (BCECE)

• Post Graduate Medical Admission Test (PGMAT)
• Diploma Certificate Competitive Entrance Examination
(DCECE)
• Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination [Lateral
Entry] - BCECE [LE]
• ITICAT

Bihar Education Project Council (BEPC)

The Bihar Education Project Council (BEPC) popularly termed as

Bihar Education Project (BEP) is established in 1991. The
organization has given the task by the government to achieve
Universal Elementary Education (UEE) in the state. The
organization is responsible for making elementary education
stronger by improving education standard in elementary schools.
Encouraging school age children to join school and preventing
dropouts from school is also the responsibility of this organization.
The council has District Offices in 37 districts of Bihar. The main
office of the council is located in Patna. At present the Bihar
Education Project Council (BEPC) runs the following educational
projects -

• Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA)

• National Programme for Education of Girls at Elementary
Level (NPEGEL)
• Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV)
• District Primary Education Programme (D.P.E.P.)
• School Sanitation and Hygiene Education (SSHE)

Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC)

Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) is the administrating

authority for Administrative Examinations in the state. One of the
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most coveted examinations conducted by the BPSC is Provincial
Civil Services (PCS) of the state. Every year thousands of students
appear for this examination for recruitment in the administrative
services in the state.

Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB)

The Bihar School Examination Board is established by the state

government for administration of examination at the end of
secondary school level. The board is also made responsible for
prescribing syllabus for such examinations and for carrying out
many other tasks as mentioned in the Act, Rules, and Regulations
of the Board. Every year board conducts Annual Secondary School
Examination in the month of February/March and Supplementary
School Examination in the month of August/September. The Board
also conducts departmental examinations (not on yearly basis)
such as Diploma in Physical Education, Certificate in Physical
Education and Teachers Training Examination.

State Board of Technical Education (SBT)

The State Board of Technical Education (SBTE) Bihar is a unit of

Department of Science & Technology, Bihar government. This unit
constituted on 31 May 1955 to administer technical education in
the state. Polytechnics and Women’s Industrial Institutes in the
state comes under the administrative control of SBTE. The office
of SBTE is located in the State Capital Patna.

Importance of education in Bihar

1. Girls' Education-

The deterrents to girls' education are rooted in their homes and

society. Educating girls is commonly perceived as unnecessary;
mainly on account of the role they have been assigned in running
the house and also because they will eventually leave their
parental homes after marriage where their skills in household
chores will hold them in better stead. Poor retention of girls is
attributed to two main factors. The first is the tendency of parents
to withdraw them from school on attainment of adolescent age

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(say 9+) as they become capable of fulfilling certain domestic
needs (sustenance activities & sibling care) while the second is
the school environment itself which neither encourages girls nor
is able to bring out the best in them. During the seasons of
harvest, marriages, festivals, etc. girls' attendance at school
suffer a setback as they are kept back at home. In the absence of
any mechanism to address their need as a result of these periods
of absenteeism, their achievement suffers. Thus begins the cycle
of teachers' neglect in the classroom leading to disinterest and
de-motivation eventually resulting in their leaving school. Added
to these are natural barriers, distance to school.

Standard 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000

Bihar UP Bihar UP Bihar UP

Primary Classes (I-V)

age 6-11 years

Boys 90.9 74.1 93.20 75.97 94.97 78.43

Girls 59.4 48.9 61.51 49.31 49.31 50.18

Total 75.9 62.3 78.02 63.35 63.02 64.97

2. Improvemet health care of citizen-

As we know healthy citizen help to economy growth of state as

well as country. Education teaches how you can make yourself
healthy which is helpful to you and your state. The most recently
released indicators of child nutritional status reflect an even
graver situation. The National Family Health Survey-III (2008-09)
reports that 58 percent of children in Bihar (compared to an all-
India average of 46percent) are underweight and 42.3 percent of
children under 3 are stunted, reflecting widespread and chronic
under-nutrition during the critical first years of life.infection rates
are high and health and nutrition practices poor. Breastfeeding
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practices, an essential aspect of childcare and nutrition, are
particularly poor in
the state. 2 out of every 3 children being raised in Bihar do not
receive the recommended schedule of immunizations. Given the
close linkages between women and children’s health, predictably
women’s health is poor with 68.3 percent of ever married women
anaemic and 43 percent in the 15-49 year age group with chronic
energy deficiency2. In such a context, there is no doubt that there
is an urgent need for investment andaction to strengthen
integrated primary health systems through a range of approaches
and improvements at multiple levels. Which only can do by
educate people of bihar.

3. Reduce Unemployment

Unemployment is a situation in which employment opportunity is not available to

an adult person who is willing to work. Education is a first step of ladder which
helps you to reach the success in life.
Percent Of Total Population Of Bihar Employed
In Organised Sector

Census year Public Private sector Total

sector

1971 5.9 3.7 9.6

1981 6.4 3.1 9.5

1991 6.2 2.5 8.7

4. Reduction of population-

Bihar's population in the ensuing census may reach 100 millions.

Excluding one-forth, being that of Jharkhand, it comes to 7.5
crores in truncated Bihar. Its land area is 94786.72 sq Km which
means that its density is 791 persons per sq Km. The rate of
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population growth in Bihar is 3.1% which is the highest in the
country and it has to be brought down to replacement level. If
growth of population is not checked, no amount of development is
sustainable in Bihar. Higher population impact on Bihar poverty.
According to All India Statistical Data 1999-2000, 54.63% of total
population of Bihar survive in absolute poverty i.e., they are living
below poverty line. It means, they do not even receive the
minimum basic needs of livelihood. Education create awareness
against population and show merit and demerit of high population
.

According to census of 1991, Bihar has 10.2% of India's total

population though it covers only 5.71% of country's area and
produces only 8% of the total production of national foodgrains.
The share of rural population is 86.5% and of urban population is
13.5%. If urbanisation is a factor of diminishing poverty, it lies
much behind. If the urban population of Bihar is compared since
1971 it increases only 3.5% in 20 years.

5.lead to industrial growth-

Industrial growth depends on the human resources of company.

So well educated people increase the growth of industry. Bihar’s
‘growth miracle’ in the last 5 years. At a five-yearly average of
11.03 per cent, Bihar under Nitish Kumar has apparently been
next only to Gujarat which clocked a growth rate of 11.07%, only
marginally higher. Bihar’s NSDP (Net State Domestic Product)
may have nearly doubled from Rs. 66,040 crore in 2004 to nearly
Rs. 1,19,443 crore in 2008–09, which is still paltry when
compared to TN (Rs. 2,99,119 crore), Maharashtra (Rs. 5,04,950
crore) or Gujarat (Rs. 2,57,694 crore).

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Present problem of education in bihar

There is a huge gap in demand and supply of education in the

state. This is the reason the students are migrating from the state
for receiving education. There is good percentage of pupils
studying in institutes of higher education in other states like
Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of
Management (IIIMs), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS),
etc.

The schooling system in Bihar is same as it was during British

rule. State government administers state schools in Bihar. There
is system of District Schools also called Zila Schools in the State.
State schools are affiliated with Bihar School Examination Board.
The literacy rate in Bihar is low as there is huge gap between
demand and supply for school education as well as higher
education. The state requires more number of schools and
institutes for higher education. The Indian Institute of Technology
and Nalanda University will soon be set up. With these institutions
coming up it is expected that the literacy rate will be higher than
it is at present as they will also attract many other educational
institutions to set up their braches in the state.

Fact and figure

Educational Institutions

Category Total Number Affiliation Total Enrolment Number Teacher-

of Student
Teachers Ratio
Pre-Primary School 1 - 27316 - -
Primary School 53697 - 10473252 115486 63
Elementary School 13761 - 2548580 99181 49
Secondary School 4146 - 1092237 39356 43
Senior Secondary 227 - 34842
School
6135 41
Pre Degree /Junior 537 365708
College
Board of Intermediate 2 - - - -
/ Secondary Education
Degree College 742 - 627338 - -
(Arts/Sc./Com.) (BA/BSc.BCom.)

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 Engg. College 9 - 6727 - -
(B.E./B.Sc./B.Arch.)
Professional College - - - - -
Medical College 23 - 15328 - -
(M.B.B.S)
All University 17 - 35006 - -
(MA/MSc/MCom.)
961
(Ph.D/D.Phil/D.Sc)
Central University - - - - -
State university - - - - -
Deemed University 2 - - - -
Institution of National - - - - -
Importance
Research Institution 11 - - - -
Teacher Training 15 - 2735 - -
College (B.Ed./B.T.)
Teacher Training 195 - 1529 - -
School
Polytechnic Institutes 15 - 2833 - -
Technical 51 - 7049 -
/Industrial/Arts&Craft

School

Literacy Rate by Sex for the State and its Districts

Literacy Rate*
Persons Males Females
SL State/District 1991 2001 1991 2001 1991 2001
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Bihar State 37.49 47.53 51.37 60.32 21.99 33.57
1. West Champaran 27.99 39.63 39.62 51.91 14.41 25.85
2. East Champaran 27.59 38.14 39.65 50.14 13.69 24.65
3. Sheohar 26.18 37.01 36.36 45.54 14.34 27.43
4. Sitamarhi 28.49 39.38 39.86 51.02 15.49 26.35
5. Madhubani 33.22 42.35 48.49 57.26 16.75 26.56
6. Supaul 28.11 37.80 40.96 53.23 13.74 21.02
7. Araria 26.19 34.94 36.99 46.50 14.01 22.14

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 8. Kishanganj 22.22 31.02 33.12 42.80 10.38 18.49
9. Purnia 28.52 35.51 38.92 46.16 16.80 23.72
10. Katihar 28.70 35.29 39.24 45.51 16.88 24.03
11. Madhepura 27.72 36.19 39.31 48.87 14.41 22.31
12. Saharsa 29.98 39.28 42.37 52.04 15.83 25.31
13. Darbhanga 34.94 44.32 48.31 57.18 20.09 30.35
14. Muzaffarpur 36.11 48.15 48.44 60.19 22.33 35.20
15. Gopalganj 34.96 48.19 51.62 63.81 17.75 32.81
16. Siwan 39.13 52.01 57.51 67.67 21.33 37.26
17. Saran 41.79 52.01 60.18 67.81 22.71 35.74
18. Vaishali 40.56 51.63 55.62 64.00 24.08 38.14
19. Samastipur 36.37 45.76 50.39 57.83 21.17 32.69
20. Begusarai 36.88 48.55 48.66 59.71 23.52 36.21
21. Khagaria 32.33 41.56 42.97 52.02 19.79 29.62
22. Bhagalpur 41.84 50.28 53.41 60.11 28.11 38.83
23. Banka 34.55 43.40 48.17 56.28 18.99 29.10
24. Munger 52.25 60.11 64.95 70.68 37.07 47.97
25. Lakhisarai 39.40 48.21 53.12 60.97 23.48 34.26
26. Sheikhpura 40.92 49.01 55.43 62.56 24.41 34.13
27. Nalanda 46.95 53.64 61.95 66.94 29.97 39.03
28. Patna 56.33 63.82 69.07 73.81 41.35 52.17
29. Bhojpur 48.18 59.71 66.35 74.78 27.95 42.81
30. Buxar 33.49 57.49 62.94 72.82 25.74 40.36
31. Kaimur 39.35 55.57 55.68 70.57 20.69 38.90
32. Rohtas 48.52 62.36 64.50 76.54 30.29 46.62
33. Jehanabad 45.83 56.03 63.11 70.90 26.81 40.08
34. Aurangabad 45.14 57.50 61.80 71.99 26.67 42.04
35. Gaya 40.47 51.07 55.22 63.81 24.20 37.40
36. Nawada 38.96 47.36 54.85 61.22 21.82 32.64
37. Jamui 33.41 42.74 48.48 57.10 16.41 26.92
* Literacy Rate is the percentage of literates to population of age 7 years and above

Category Total Number Affiliatio Total Enrolment Number Teacher-

n of Student
Teacher Ratio
s
Pre-PrimarySchool 1 - 27316 - -
PrimarySchool 53697 - 10473252 115486 63
ElementarySchool 13761 - 2548580 99181 49
SecondarySchool 4146 - 1092237 39356 43

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SeniorSecondary School 227 - 34842
6135 41
PreDegree /Junior College 537 365708
Board ofIntermediate / 2 - - - -
Secondary Education
DegreeCollege 742 - 627338 - -
(Arts/Sc./Com. (BA/BSc.BCom.)
)
Engg.College 9 - 6727 - -
(B.E./B.Sc./B.Arch.
)
ProfessionalCollege - - - - -
MedicalCollege 23 - 15328 - -
(M.B.B.S)
AllUniversity 17 - 35006 - -
(MA/MSc/MCom.)
961
(Ph.D/D.Phil/D.Sc)
CentralUniversity - - - - -
State university - - - - -
DeemedUniversity 2 - - - -
Institutionof National - - - - -
Importance
ResearchInstitution 11 - - - -
TeacherTraining College 15 - 2735 - -
(B.Ed./B.T.)
TeacherTraining School 195 - 1529 - -
PolytechnicInstitutes 15 - 2833 - -
Technical/Industrial/Arts&Cra 51 - 7049 -
ft
School

Literacy Rate from 1951 to 2001

SL Year Persons Males Females

1 2 3 4 5
1. 1951 13.49 22.68 4.22
2. 1961 21.95 35.85 8.11
3. 1971 23.17 35.86 9.86
4. 1981 32.32 47.11 16.61
5. 1991 37.49 51.37 21.99
6. 2001 47.53 60.32 33.57

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