Patna, May 7: The state government today said stern actions would be taken against district education officers (DEOs) if they failed to ensure quality education for students.

The government also asked the officials concerned to mend their ways or be prepared to face the music.

Addressing the meeting of DEOs in the state capital, education minister P.K. Shahi directed the district education officers to work “sincerely and honestly” and keep a tab on the increasing dropouts of students in schools, failing which they should be prepared to face stern action.

The meeting, convened by the education department and chaired by Shahi, was attended by principal secretary (edu-cation) Anjani Kumar Singh and Bihar Education Project Council director Rajesh Bhushan. The speakers raised concern over the increasing dropout rates in schools despite the state government launching various schemes such as distributing cycles and uniform among students.

Shahi said: “Despite these schemes, the percentage of student dropout in some schools is around 50. It is the DEOs’ duty to keep a tab on activities of the teachers and principals of state-run schools. The aim is to providing quality education to all.” He also directed the district education officers to keep a tab on corruption in the sector.

The minister expressed concern over the fact that several teachers were not receiving salaries regularly despite the government releasing funds for the purpose on time.

During chief minister Nitish Kumar’s Sewa Yatra to various districts, he had received several complaints from schoolteachers that they were not getting salaries on time. The chief minister had discussed the issue with Shahi, sources said.