The Bihar Education Department has issued a clear directive asking teachers not to call senior officials during late-night hours. The move came after reports that teachers were frequently contacting the top official in the department with work-related queries even at midnight. The department clarified that while grievances and administrative issues are important, such communication should be done during office hours to maintain decorum and efficiency.
I chose to write about this matter because it reflects the everyday struggles in India’s education administration and the balance between teachers’ needs and official protocols. Teachers are at the core of the system, and their concerns cannot be ignored, but there also needs to be a framework so that communication is effective and professional. This decision in Bihar sheds light on the larger issue of how governance and teaching staff can work together without crossing personal boundaries. It is important to know this because it speaks about respect, work-life balance, and how both teachers and administrators can find better ways to resolve issues without unnecessary stress.
The official order and its context
The order was passed after complaints surfaced that teachers were calling the Education Department’s top officer late at night with service-related queries. These included transfer requests, salary concerns, and administrative clarifications. While these are genuine concerns, the department argued that addressing them outside working hours was neither practical nor appropriate.
Teachers’ concerns
Many teachers, especially from rural areas, often face delays in resolving their issues through local offices. In frustration, some of them resort to calling higher officials directly. This practice, however, has created pressure on senior administrators who are already managing a large workload.
Why the directive matters
The directive is not meant to silence teachers but to streamline communication. Teachers can still raise issues through proper channels such as district education offices, written complaints, or during designated grievance redressal days. The order simply ensures that personal time and official time are clearly separated.
Balancing respect and efficiency
This step also highlights the need for better systems where teachers don’t feel ignored or forced to call late at night. Strengthening grievance redressal mechanisms, ensuring quicker responses, and creating digital platforms for complaints could reduce such problems. Work culture in education should be built on respect from both sides—teachers deserve timely solutions, and officials deserve their personal time.
