Daughters of residential school staff now eligible for on-campus education

PATNA

The Backwards Classes and Extremely Backwards Classes (BC & EBC) Welfare Department of Bihar decided on Wednesday (June 25, 2025) that the daughters of regularly appointed teachers (including principals) and non-teaching staff in OBC Girls Residential+2 High Schools will be enrolled in the same residential schools.

The residential schools operated by the department provide free education and accommodation to girl students. For the holistic development of these students, principals, teachers, and non-teaching staff posted in these schools are required to reside within the campus.

Previously, there was no specific provision for the enrolment of daughters. This posed a significant challenge, forcing many staff members to live apart from their daughters and constantly worry about their education.

“Recognising these challenges, the Backward Classes and Extremely Backward Classes Welfare Department amended its operational guidelines. This amendment reflects the department’s commitment to the welfare of its employees and to ensuring a conducive environment for both staff and students,“ a senior official of the department told The Hindu.

It will be optional, not mandatory, for the daughters of posted regular staff to study in the residential school where their parents are posted. A maximum of two daughters of regular staff (including principals/teachers and non-teaching staff) will be granted admission as day scholars.

Children to live with parents

While these residential schools primarily cater to girls from Backward and Extremely Backward Classes and the daughters of regular staff members, it is not mandatory to belong to BC-I or BC-II.

BC-I represents a more socially and educationally disadvantaged group within the OBCs, while BC-II includes those with a slightly better socioeconomic standing.

The official further said, “Enrolment will be exclusively for girl children, and the daughters will reside with their regular staff parents in their allocated residential quarters within the school premises. The responsibility for food and clothing arrangements for their daughters will lie with the staff members.”

The official added that the enrolment of staff members’ daughters will be over and above the determined seat capacity (e.g., in addition to the 40 seats per class in Class 6, and similarly for Classes 7, 8, 9, etc.).

In the event of a regular staff member’s transfer, their daughters’ enrolment can also be transferred to the OBC Girls Residential +2 High School where the parent is newly posted.

“This transformative decision will reduce the burden on teachers and staff, enabling them to keep their families together while ensuring their daughters receive quality education in a supportive environment,” the official said.