Rules for Teacher Employment in Bihar Changed; Failure to Complete D.El.Ed Could Lead to Job Loss

The Education Department in Bihar has issued new directives regarding untrained teachers. The department has clarified that March 31, 2015, will be considered the decisive cut-off date in this matter.

Untrained elementary school teachers who were already in service by this date have been granted until August 31, 2028, to complete the mandatory training qualification—specifically, the D.El.Ed (Diploma in Elementary Education) course. No further extensions will be granted after this deadline.

Conversely, appointments made after March 31, 2015, without the prescribed training qualifications will be deemed invalid. In such cases, the concerned District Education Officer has been instructed to initiate proceedings to terminate their services in accordance with the rules. The department has also clarified that obtaining a D.El.Ed degree at a later stage will not validate such appointments.

Directives Issued Following Supreme Court Order

This directive from the Education Department has been issued in light of the Supreme Court’s order dated July 28, 2026. Kumar Nishant Vivek, the Director of Primary Education, has sent a letter to all District Magistrates instructing them to take the necessary action. The directive grants an opportunity to teachers who were in service on March 31, 2015—but had not yet received training—to fulfill the mandatory D.El.Ed qualification. Such teachers must complete the D.El.Ed course by August 31, 2028, without fail.

Action Against Untrained Teachers

The Education Department has also clarified the position regarding appointments made after March 31, 2015. If a primary teacher was appointed after this date without the requisite minimum training qualification, the appointment will be considered invalid under the rules. Instructions have been issued to the District Magistrate to complete the process of terminating the services of such teachers. Notably, even if the concerned teacher acquired the D.El.Ed qualification after their appointment, appointments made after March 31, 2015, will not be considered valid.

Instructions to Reinstate Teachers

These decisions also provide relief to teachers who were appointed prior to March 31, 2015. The services of some such untrained teachers had previously been terminated in compliance with the Patna High Court’s order dated March 20, 2024. Following the Supreme Court’s order, instructions have now been issued to reinstate these teachers. The concerned District Education Officers will complete the process of retaining or reappointing these teachers, ensuring they can avail the benefits of the time granted to acquire the D.El.Ed qualification.

What is the Entire Matter About?

This dispute concerns the training qualifications of primary school teachers who entered service without the D.El.Ed qualification. The core issue revolved around how much additional time could be granted to such teachers to acquire the minimum training qualification and the status of untrained teachers appointed after March 31, 2015. According to the Education Department’s directives, untrained teachers who were appointed and in service by March 31, 2015, have been granted a final opportunity to complete the D.El.Ed course. These teachers had previously been given time to complete their training. Orders to terminate the services of teachers who failed to acquire the qualification within the stipulated period had also been issued, leading to the matter reaching the courts. Now, based on the Supreme Court’s order dated July 28, 2026, the Bihar Education Department has provided a clear framework for action to the districts.