Ban on teachers and staff creating reels in Bihar schools

A ban has been imposed on the activity of creating videos or reels for social media during teaching hours in government schools in Bihar. The Bihar Education Department has recently issued a new rule, prohibiting teachers and non-teaching staff from shooting videos or uploading reels on social media during classroom hours without permission. Under this rule, not only teachers but also students have been stopped from shooting videos during class.

According to a report by The Hindu, in this rule issued on November 4, Vijay Kumar Pandey, Administrative Director of the Bihar School Education Department, has instructed all District Education Officers (DEOs) and District Programme Officers (DPOs). He has ordered that teachers or students should not create videos or reels for social media without the prior approval of the concerned officers. Along with this, outsiders or unauthorised visitors have also been prevented from entering the school campus while teaching hours are ongoing.

According to a report by NDTV India, Bihar Education Minister Mithilesh Kumar has given a stern warning to teachers regarding this matter. He remarked sarcastically, "If one wants to make reels, they should join a theatre." The government's primary objection is that teachers are attempting to become social media influencers inside the school, which is a violation of children's fundamental rights and their privacy. According to Education Department officials, the aim of this new provision is to protect the privacy of students, ensure discipline in school, and prevent the distraction of teachers and students during teaching hours.

A senior official of the department told The Hindu that creating reels with students during classroom activities and subsequently posting them on social media is completely inappropriate. If these rules are violated, disciplinary action may be taken against the teachers by the department. Additionally, the ban on the entry of outsiders is intended to ensure that classroom activities are not disrupted and the school environment remains focused on education.

The Education Department has clarified that these rules have been issued under the Bihar Government Servant Conduct Rules, 1976 and the Bihar Government Servant Conduct (Amendment) Rules, 2026. The department has also expressed concern that government employees are using school resources to create social media content and promote themselves as influencers. If teachers or staff wish to use social media, it will be mandatory for them to obtain written permission from their controlling officer.

However, exemptions have been granted for certain specific occasions. Videos can be recorded for events such as cultural programmes, school functions, tree plantation drives, blood and organ donation campaigns, cleanliness drives, as well as Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations, but for these too, it is mandatory to obtain the necessary approval from the concerned officers. Furthermore, there is a strict prohibition on uploading obscene, inappropriate, objectionable or defamatory content, material that violates intellectual property rights, or posts that could affect national and internal security. Regional Education Deputy Directors and District Education Officers have been made responsible for the implementation of these rules. Previously, on October 30, the department had also ordered all teachers and non-teaching staff to follow a formal dress code.

These changes have been made in the code of conduct rules for employees of the Bihar Government so that the dignity of educational institutions is maintained.