The issue surfaced at Baidyapur Vidyapith, located in Kalna-II block of Purba Bardhaman, when newly admitted Class 11 students attempted to complete registration formalities through the state education portal. During the process, it was discovered that the institution was listed as a boys’ school, making the admissions of female students ineligible under the system.

The development has triggered concern among students, parents and school authorities, many of whom claim they were unaware of any such change in the school’s status.

According to school officials, Baidyapur Vidyapith has been admitting girls in higher secondary classes for nearly five decades. Although the institution primarily serves students from Classes 5 to 12, girls have reportedly been enrolling in Classes 11 and 12 since the mid-1970s.

The school currently has more than 1,700 students and has long been considered a co-educational institution by the local community. However, an administrative review reportedly found that the school had never received formal government approval to operate as a co-educational institution, despite functioning that way for years.

Following the discovery, admissions of around 120 girls who had already enrolled in Class 11 have been cancelled. The decision has created anxiety among affected families, particularly because the academic session is already underway.

School authorities said the issue does not affect girls currently studying in Class 12. Since they had already been registered under the previous system, they will be allowed to continue their studies and appear for their board examinations.

The controversy has also raised questions about administrative oversight. Officials at the school have indicated that they were not informed in advance about any change in the institution’s classification. Reports suggest that even local education administrators were initially unaware of how the status appeared on official records.

After learning of the cancellations, the school management approached district education authorities seeking immediate intervention. The institution has requested that its co-educational status be retained, at least for the current academic year, to protect the future of students who had already secured admission.

School representatives argue that the affected students joined the institution in good faith and should not suffer due to an administrative or regulatory dispute. Parents have echoed similar concerns, saying students now face uncertainty over where they will continue their education if the issue is not resolved quickly.

The case has sparked debate in the region, with many questioning how a school that had been admitting girls for decades could suddenly face restrictions without prior clarification. The matter has also highlighted the importance of maintaining accurate educational records and ensuring that institutional classifications are updated transparently.

Education department officials have not yet announced a final decision on the matter. As a result, the future of the affected Class 11 students remains unclear.

With admissions already cancelled and the new academic session progressing, families are now awaiting a response from authorities that could determine whether the students will be allowed to continue their studies at the school or be required to seek admission elsewhere.

Further developments are expected after district education officials review the school's representation and examine the institution’s regulatory status.

The Chhattisgarh education department has taken strict action against alleged forced sale practices by a private school in Bilaspur after a uniform and book shop operating near the campus was sealed during an inspection drive.

The action came after parents complained that they were being compelled to purchase school uniforms, books and study material only from a designated shop linked to the school management. Following the complaint, the district administration ordered an immediate inquiry into the matter. Officials from the education department conducted a surprise inspection on Friday and sealed the shop after allegedly finding school-tagged uniforms and books during the raid.

Parents Raise Complaints

According to officials, several parents approached the administration claiming that the school management was pressuring them to buy uniforms and educational material from a particular outlet located near the school premises. Parents alleged that they were not allowed to purchase uniforms or books from open markets despite high prices being charged at the designated shop.

The matter eventually reached Bilaspur Collector Sanjay Agrawal, who directed the district education department to conduct an immediate investigation into the allegations. The issue quickly turned into a major Public Interest Story in Bilaspur as parents demanded stricter monitoring of private schools operating in the district.

Raid Conducted By Officials

Following the collector’s instructions, District Education Officer Vijay Kumar Tande formed a special team to investigate the complaint. The inspection team included senior education department officials and administrative representatives. During the raid, the team inspected Sai Enterprises, a shop operating opposite the school campus in Vyapar Vihar area. Officials claimed they found uniforms carrying the school’s official tags along with books reportedly prescribed for students of the institution. After preliminary verification, the shop was sealed by the administration.

School Gets Notice

Following the action, the education department issued a formal notice to the school management seeking clarification regarding the alleged link with the shop. Officials stated that government guidelines clearly prohibit private schools from forcing parents to buy uniforms, books or stationery from any particular vendor. Authorities also warned that strict action could be initiated against institutions violating educational norms and commercial conduct rules. The department said further action would depend on the findings of the ongoing investigation.

Network Under Scanner

During the inspection, officials reportedly called the shop operator for questioning. According to sources, the operator claimed the store had already been transferred to a person allegedly connected with the school administration. Documents examined during the inquiry reportedly supported parts of the claim, raising suspicion about indirect involvement of individuals associated with the institution. Investigators are now examining financial transactions and operational links connected to the shop. Officials believe the matter may involve a wider commercial arrangement designed to generate profits through compulsory purchases by parents.

Principal Denies Allegations

Reacting to the action, school principal Jitendra Hundal denied any direct involvement of the school in operating the sealed shop. He stated that the store was located outside the official school premises and claimed several other commercial establishments also functioned in the same area. The principal further said the school management had no role in deciding what products were sold in nearby shops. However, education department officials maintained that the investigation would continue based on available records and complaints received from parents.

Strict Rules In Place

Authorities said the state government has already issued clear regulations regarding sale of school books, uniforms and stationery items. Under existing norms, private schools cannot force parents to buy material from specific vendors. Schools are also not permitted to change uniforms frequently.

Officials said school uniforms generally cannot be changed before three years unless special approval is granted. The government has also mandated that only NCERT and SCERT books are allowed for Classes 1 to 8 in recognised institutions. Apart from this, annual fee hikes beyond prescribed limits are also subject to regulation.

Hundreds Of Schools Under Watch

Bilaspur district reportedly has around 562 private schools functioning under different boards and educational societies.v To monitor irregularities, the government has constituted district-level monitoring committees headed by collectors and district education officers.

Despite the regulations, complaints regarding arbitrary fee collection and forced purchases from selected vendors continue to emerge from different districts. Officials admitted that this was among the first major cases in Bilaspur where a shop was sealed in connection with alleged violations involving private school operations.

Jabalpur Authorities Crack Down on Heavy School Bags After DPI Order

The Directorate of Public Instruction has issued strict guidelines to the Jabalpur Collector and DEO, mandating that Class 1 bags must not exceed 1,078 grams.

In a significant move aimed at safeguarding the health of young students, the Jabalpur district administration has initiated a crackdown on the weight of school bags. Following recent directives from the Child Protection Commission and the Directorate of Public Instruction (DPI), the District Collector and District Education Officer (DEO) have been tasked with the rigorous implementation of the National School Bag Policy across all educational institutions.

The DPI has established precise weight limits for students across various grades, highlighting that a Class 1 student’s bag should strictly weigh no more than 1,078 grams. Officials have warned that schools failing to adhere to these standards will face disciplinary action.

Health concerns trigger administrative action

The push for lighter school bags stems from growing concerns over the physical and mental well-being of children. According to the Child Protection Commission, carrying excessive weight leads to spinal issues, poor posture, and unnecessary mental stress at a developmental age.

"Several private schools continue to ignore established norms, forcing young children to carry heavy loads of textbooks and notebooks," the Commission noted in its letter to the Collector. The administration has been asked to ensure that no child is burdened beyond their physical capacity, particularly in the primary sections.

No bags for pre-primary sections

The new guidelines bring much-needed relief to the youngest learners. The DPI has explicitly stated that for pre-primary classes, school bags are not required at all. Schools are encouraged to adopt play-way methods where all learning material is kept within the classroom premises.

For higher classes, the weight limit increases gradually. For instance, while Class 2 bags are capped at 1,080 grams, the limit for Class 10 is set at 4,182 grams. Students in Class 11 and 12 are permitted bags weighing between 3.5 kg and 5 kg, depending on their stream and subjects.

DEO to lead school inspections

Additional Project Director of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and DPI, Nanda Bhalave, has already dispatched instructions to District Education Officers to conduct surprise inspections. These teams are expected to weigh student bags on-site and report discrepancies.

However, the timing of the report request has raised some eyebrows within the local academic circle. With summer vacations currently underway in many institutions, ground-level verification has become a logistical challenge. There are concerns that some schools might submit compliance reports without actual physical verification being conducted during this period.

Strict limits for every grade

The administration has released a detailed chart to help parents and teachers monitor bag weights. According to the official list:

• Class 3: 1,572 grams

• Class 5: 1,916 grams

• Class 8: 3,640 grams

• Class 9: 4,400 grams

Local authorities have hinted that once schools reopen fully after the break, a dedicated flying squad may be formed to ensure the National School Bag Policy isn't just on paper but followed in every classroom.

The road ahead for schools

The Jabalpur administration is now expected to hold meetings with school principals to discuss ways to reduce bag weight, such as using digital resources or providing lockers for heavy books. While government schools generally follow these norms, the focus remains on private English-medium schools where the number of workbooks often exceeds the prescribed limit.

Parents in Jabalpur have welcomed the move, noting that the culture of "carrying the whole library" to school needs to end to ensure children enjoy their learning process without physical strain.

Nine months and still waiting

More than ten thousand selected teacher candidates in Madhya Pradesh have run out of patience. It has been roughly nine months since the merit list for secondary and primary school teachers was released. But appointment letters? Still not issued.

On Wednesday, a substantial crowd of these aspirants gathered outside the Directorate of Public Instruction (DPI) in Bhopal. Under a harsh summer sun, they staged a sit-in demonstration, demanding that the recruitment process be completed without further delays. Officials from the directorate watched from behind barricades as the protest swelled through the afternoon.

Selection list out, no joining in sight

The recruitment process began back in 2022. Eligibility tests were held in 2023, followed by the selection examination in April 2025. After a drawn-out procedure, the results were declared in September 2025, and the final selection list was published. That was nearly three fiscal quarters ago.

According to the candidates, the examination conduct rulebook – specifically section 3.28 – makes it mandatory to issue appointment orders within three months of releasing the selection list. That deadline passed long ago. “We have crossed eight, almost nine months now,” said a candidate from Vidisha, declining to be named. “There is no court stay. No legal hurdle. So why are we still waiting?”

‘Broken promises and endless assurances’

This isn’t the first time these candidates have taken to the streets. Between November 2025 and April 2026, aspirants made multiple trips to Bhopal, meeting departmental officers. Each time, they were sent back with verbal assurances. In March, officials reportedly said choice filing would begin soon. Then came word that joining might start in April. Neither happened.

The candidates’ core demand is simple: release the eligibility lists, complete the choice filing process, and issue appointment orders. “We are not asking for anything extra. Just what is already written in the rulebook,” said Dheerendra Chaurasia, one of the aspirants who has been following the matter closely.

Over 10,700 lives caught in limbo

The numbers tell a grim story. Nearly 10,700 selected candidates are directly affected. Many belong to farming families. Some run small tuition centres to make ends meet. A few have been surviving on odd jobs while waiting for this government job to materialise.

The new academic session began in April 2026 – but these teachers aren’t inside classrooms. Candidates point out that reports have repeatedly highlighted a severe shortage of teachers across the state. According to recent official data, nearly 1,895 schools in Madhya Pradesh do not have a single teacher on staff. Another 29,116 schools face a cumulative shortage of approximately 99,682 teachers. Rural areas are the worst hit, with only about 70 per cent of sanctioned posts filled.

“If schools are running without teachers, why delay our appointments?” asked Vivek Tiwari from Chhatarpur. His voice carried the weight of years. He said many selected candidates are now past 40 years of age. Personal lives are on hold – marriages, family planning, all deferred. “Some parents passed away waiting for their children to get this job. That is not an exaggeration. That is what has happened.”

What next? Agitation to escalate

Sources familiar with the matter said the DPI has acknowledged receipt of the memorandum submitted by the protesting group. However, no official statement or timeline has been issued yet.

Dinesh Thakur from Indore said all formalities – document verification, eligibility checks – are complete for most candidates. “The portal shows no update. We were told March, then April. Now April is also over. What do we tell our families?”

The candidates have made their position clear. If appointment orders are not issued within a reasonable timeframe now, they will scale up the agitation. “We have waited nine months. We cannot wait nine more,” said another protester as the evening crowd began to disperse. Bhopal’s police presence remained light, and no untoward incident was reported. But the simmering anger among these ten thousand aspirants is unlikely to fade unless the education department acts – and fast.