Struggling with studies? Bihar launches free evening classes to bridge learning gaps across 38 districts

The Bihar Education Department will introduce free evening classes for students of Classes 9 to 12 across all 38 district headquarters from Nov 17, aiming to improve the academic performance of students who require additional learning support.

The initiative, named 'Sankalp Sandhya,' will primarily benefit academically weaker students and those belonging to economically disadvantaged sections who may not have access to private tuition or additional academic assistance.

Launched at the initiative of Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari, the program will provide students with additional classroom support to strengthen their understanding of subjects, complete homework and prepare for upcoming examinations.

According to Additional Chief Secretary of the Education Department C K Anil, the classes will begin on Nov 17, 2026, and continue until March 31, 2027.

At each district headquarters, a minimum of one and a maximum of three government schools will be selected to conduct the evening classes. The sessions will take place daily from 5 pm to 7:30 pm, and students will not be required to pay any fees.

Sankalp Sandhya to focus on five subjects, including AI

The program will give special attention to five subjects considered important for strengthening students' academic understanding and learning capabilities.

These include English, Mathematics, Science, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Teaching will be organized according to individual students' learning requirements, with additional attention given to areas where they face academic difficulties.

Government schools will also use their existing smart boards and other digital teaching resources to support classroom instruction. The department intends to utilize the infrastructure already available in schools rather than depend on additional facilities.

Additional Chief Secretary Anil said the objective is to improve students' foundational understanding through supplementary classes and help them prepare more effectively for examinations.

The initiative is also expected to make additional academic assistance accessible to students who need support beyond regular school hours.

Retired government officers can volunteer as teachers

A key feature of Sankalp Sandhya is the participation of retired government officials alongside serving schoolteachers. The department has opened the opportunity for willing retired officers to contribute their experience and knowledge to students.

Retired officers below 70 years of age from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Bihar Administrative Service (BAS), Bihar Education Service (BES) and other government services will be eligible to teach voluntarily under the program.

Interested officers must obtain temporary permission from the respective District Education Officer (DEO) before taking up teaching responsibilities. They can also register through the Vidyanjali app to participate in the initiative.

The retired officials will provide their services without receiving any honorarium or remuneration. Their participation is intended to strengthen the teaching support available to government school students through community involvement.

DEOs to oversee implementation of evening classes

The respective District Education Officers will be responsible for supervising the implementation of Sankalp Sandhya at the selected government schools. District Magistrates will provide the necessary guidance to ensure the program is conducted effectively.

The Education Department has instructed all DEOs to submit the names of selected schools to the department within two days. Each district headquarters must identify at least one and no more than three government schools for conducting the classes.

The selected institutions will use their existing infrastructure and digital resources to facilitate the additional academic sessions. The district-level administrative machinery will oversee the arrangements and implementation of the program.

Education Minister highlights objective of Sankalp Sandhya

Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari described Sankalp Sandhya as an initiative to achieve better educational outcomes through the effective use of limited resources.

He said the program seeks to make maximum use of facilities already available in government schools while improving students' learning through public participation.

The department expects the initiative to create additional learning opportunities for academically weaker students, strengthen their subject knowledge and help improve their examination performance.

By involving retired government officials and utilizing existing school infrastructure, the program also seeks to expand academic support without placing additional financial burdens on students.

The free evening classes are particularly relevant for students who cannot afford private coaching but require additional guidance in core academic subjects. Their effectiveness will depend on the timely selection of schools, availability of serving teachers and volunteers, and regular monitoring by district authorities.

With classes scheduled to continue until March 31, 2027, the department aims to provide sustained academic assistance to students of Classes 9 to 12 during the current academic session.