Education in Bihar

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Historically, Bihar has been a major centre of learning, home to the universities of Nalanda (one of the earliest universities of India dating back to the fifth century) and Vikramshila. Unfortunately, that tradition of learning which had its origin from the time of Buddha or perhaps earlier, was lost during the medieval period when it is believed that marauding armies of the invaders destroyed these centres of learning.

Bihar saw a revival of sorts during the later part of the British rule when they established a University at Patna along with a few other centres of high learning, viz. 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, this early lead got lost in the post independence period when the politicians from Bihar lost out in the race of getting centres of education established in Bihar.

Modern Bihar has a grossly inadequate educational infrastructure creating a huge mismatch between demand and supply. This problem is further compounded by increases in population. The craving for higher education among the general population of Bihar has led to a massive migration of the student community from the state. This has led to a "flooding" of students to seek educational opportunities in other states, such as New Delhi and Karnataka, even for graduation level college education.

In spite of the meager investment on education in Bihar, compared to other poorer Indian states, owing to class based reservation (of which Bihar's Pupils have been the main beneficiaries) the students have as a result done very well. Famed national institutes of learning such as IIT, IIM and AIIMS have always had a good representation from Bihar. There is also thought to be growing discontentment among students of other classes who claim however that pure merit has taken a back seat in the nation's education system as a result of giving reservation to people of backward classes.[citation needed]. Other institutions of higher learning, and coveted positions in the government also show a greater share than the percentage of their population. A recent survey by Pratham[1] rated the absorption of their teaching by the Bihar children better than those in other states.

[edit] Schools

From the British times, Bihar has had a system of district schools (called Zila schools), located at the headquarters of the older districts of Bihar. These schools has an excellent reputation and were centres of excellence. In addition, there were several private and semi aided schools which were run and administered by local village communities. Several of them were known for their high quality education.

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, the state government took over management of most privately run schools. This adversely affected school education in the state since the state government was ill equipped to manage the schools through its bureaucrats who were trained for law and order duties. Though the state accorded them government recognition, the standard started to fall. Thankfully, the state did not take over the schools run by the Christian missionaries and these schools provided a fillip to quality education in Bihar.

As in other states, the central government runs a number of Kendriya Vidyalayas (Central Schools) and Jawahar Navodaya Schools for rural students. Jawahar Navodaya Schools started by the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi have been particularly successful in providing quality education to the weaker sections of the society.

The number of Private schools, including school-chains and Missionary Schools run by Christian Missionaries as well as Madrasas, or schools run by Muslim clerics, has increased in the post liberalisation era.

Most of the schools in Bihar are affiliated with the Bihar School Examination Board, while the Kendriya Vidyalay and a few other elite schools including the Christian Missionary Schools are affiliated to the ICSE and CBSE boards. A recent survey by National University of Educational Planning & Administration or UNEPA has determined that only 21 % of all primary school teachers in Bihar have completed the matriculation; or 10-th standard [2].

In spite of the poor condition of schools in Bihar, students from there are performing excellent with respect to other economically better off states of India thanks to the law of affirmative action which provides for reservations in jobs and education for people of backward classes. The people of Bihar have also made considerable gains economically, more so than people of other states over the last decade as a result.

[edit] Universities & colleges

Bihar has twelve universities recognised by the state:

  1. Patna University, Patna.
  2. Magadh University, Bodh Gaya.
  3. B. R. Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur.
  4. Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur.
  5. Lalit Narayan Mithila University, Darbhanga.
  6. Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University, Darbhanga.
  7. Jaiprakash University, Chapra.
  8. Bhupendra Narayan Mandal University, Madhepura.
  9. Veer Kunwar Singh University, Arrah.
  10. Nalanda Open University, Patna.
  11. Rajendra Agricultural University, Samastipur.

The University of Patna, established in 1917 and among the oldest university on the Indian subcontinent, is the most prominent among these. It has 11 colleges, including the Science College, Patna, B.N.College, Patna, Patna Women's College, Patna College, Patna and Patna Medical College and Hospital, Patna. Magadh Mahila College.

Following is the list of engineering colleges:

Institutions funded by Government of India:

  1. National Institute of Technology, Patna (1924)

Institutions funded by Bihar government:

  1. Bhagalpur College of Engineering, Bhagalpur (1960)
  2. Muzaffarpur Institute of Technology, Muzaffarpur (1954)
  3. Women's Institute of Technology, Lalit Narayan Mithila University Darbhanga

Private institutions:

  1. Maulana Azad College of Engineering and Technology, Patna (1990)
  2. BIT Mesra Extension Centre,Patna (2006)
  3. R.P.Sharma Institute Of Tehnology,Patna
  4. Millia Institute of Technology, Purnea
  5. Siwan Engineering and Technical Institute, Siwan

Following is a list of the medical colleges in Bihar:

  1. Patna Medical College and Hospital, and Nalanda Medical College and Hospital, at Patna
  2. Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital at Muzaffarpur
  3. Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College and Hospital at Gaya
  4. Bhagalpur Medical College and Hospital at Bhagalpur
  5. Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital at Darbhanga

Management Institutes:

  1. Lalit Narayan Mishra Institute of Economic Development & Social Change
  2. ICFAI National College, Patna, BP Kiorala Marg (Bank Road),Patna -800 001
  3. A N College, Patna
  4. Gaya College (Affiliated to Magadh University), Gaya, Bihar.
  5. Indian Institute of Business Management (Recognised by AICTE, New Delhi), Buddh Marg, Patna - 800 001.
  6. A.N. Sinha Institute of Social Sciences, Patna.
  7. Patna Women's College (Constituent college of Patna University), Bailey Road, Patna.
  8. Shanti Sewa Samiti's Indian Institute of Hotel Management, 11 IAS Colony, Kidwaipuri, Patna - 800 001.

Law Institutes:

  1. Chanakya National Law University(A.N. Sinha Institute of Social Sciences campus) , Patna.
  2. A. N. Law College (Affiliated to Magadh University), Gaya, Bihar.

International Yoga Institutes:

  1. Bihar School of Yoga, Munger.

Silk Institute:

  1. Institute of Silk Technology, Bhagalpur

Mass Media and Television:

  1. The Notre Dame Communication Center established by the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1975 is the oldest TV training institute in the region.....

[edit] References

  1. ^ Pratham .org | Pratham - A Network of Societal Missions to Achieve Universal Primary Education in India
  2. ^ Only 21% teachers in Bihar are Class X pass-India-The Times of India