“In the first place, God made idiots. This was for practice. Then he made school boards.” – Mark Twain
Chintu (name changed to maintain privacy) sat on the narrow steps of his single-floor pucca house in a small village near Muzaffarpur, shivering in the bone-chilling cold. He waited for his mother to finish preparing dinner, the warm glow of a flickering yellow bulb barely illuminating the room behind him. Schools were closed for winter, giving him a short break from his hectic routine. When I asked which standard he studied in, he smiled and said nothing. His mother, busy stirring a pot over the stove, answered instead.
“He’s in 6th in the government school and 5th in the private one,” she said matter-of-factly as if this dual enrolment were the most natural thing in the world. I couldn’t hide my confusion, so she patiently explained what many in rural Bihar already know: Chintu, like many other children in the state, is enrolled in both government and private schools simultaneously.
Dual Enrolment
Dual enrolment has long been a part of Bihar’s educational system. Parents, especially those from economically weaker sections, often enrol their children in government schools to avail themselves of the benefits offered there, while simultaneously sending them to private schools, which they believe provide better education. The motive is simple: government schools offer free meals, textbooks, uniforms, and scholarships, while private schools promise an education that might pave the way to a brighter future, helping them secure a government job.
However, the ground truth is anything but simple. A report by Jan Jagran Shakti Sanghathan (JJSS), a registered trade union of unorganised sector workers, released on August 4, 2023, highlighted the harsh realities of the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme. Under DBT, funds meant for textbooks, uniforms etc., are transferred directly to the bank accounts of students.
“The Direct Benefit Transfer scheme for textbooks and uniforms forces a cruel choice on poor families: buying textbooks/uniforms or basic necessities. The result is not hard to guess: many children have no textbooks or uniforms. Almost all teachers are opposed to the DBT system for textbooks,” the report said.
For families like Chintu’s, the decision to enrol in two schools is driven by both ambition and desperation. His parents dream of seeing him in a government job one day, a position that still holds unparalleled prestige in India. Yet, their hope is tempered by the reality of Bihar’s education system. Despite numerous initiatives, the quality of teaching in government schools remains subpar, pushing parents toward private institutions.
“Education in government schools has improved somewhat in the last few years,” one parent admitted, “but it’s still not enough. We can’t afford to take risks with our children’s future.”
Low Cost Private School’s State In The State
But private schools, too, are far from perfect. Many operate out of cramped, single-room buildings with unqualified teachers and inadequate resources. Often unregistered and unregulated, these schools offer little in terms of meaningful credentials. The certificates they issue are rarely recognized and hold no value for higher education or job applications. Yet, for parents, they represent a sliver of hope, the chance that their children might learn enough to compete in the cutthroat world of government job exams.
The Bihar government has taken steps to address these issues. In 2023, it removed over two million students from government schools due to prolonged absences, an effort to curb the practice of dual enrolment and ensure accountability. Last year, the government said that the amount of bicycles, clothes and other beneficial scholarships related to the DBT scheme would only be given to those students, whose bank accounts are linked to Aadhaar cards. Further, registration of private schools on the e-Sambandhan portal was made mandatory. The details of the students enrolled in them are also to be uploaded on it, so that students with double enrolment can be caught.
“We just want what’s best for our children,” one father said, his voice heavy with frustration. “But the system doesn’t make it easy. Private schools charge fees we can barely afford, and government schools don’t teach properly. We’re stuck in the middle.”
Media Ban From Entering Schools
Journalists and Youtubers who highlighted the flaws in the education system faced pushback rather than cooperation. In a controversial move, the Bihar government banned media from entering government schools, saying that not only are the studies of the children disrupted but the overall development of the students is hampered. This has only resulted in reduced transparency and made it harder to hold the system accountable.
Still, there are glimmers of hope. Social enterprises, educators, and local leaders continue to push for reforms. Government programs aimed at training teachers and improving infrastructure, though slow to show results, are steps in the right direction.
Chintu’s story is a reminder of the urgent need for systemic change. For schools that provide not just meals and uniforms, but meaningful learning experiences; for policies that empower families without burdening them with impossible choices. And for a society that values quality education as a fundamental right, not a privilege. As Chintu finished his dinner that evening, his mother, who is a goat rearer, looked on with a mix of pride and worry. She knows the road ahead is going to be tough, but she holds on to her belief that quality education could change everything.

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