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Bihar has registered notable progress in literacy over the past few years, yet the latest figures underscore a sharp contrast between its most and least educated districts. While certain regions are emerging as educationally strong, others continue to grapple with low literacy, inadequate infrastructure and social challenges. According to official data, Rohtas district tops the list with the highest literacy rate in the state at 73.37 per cent. Officials attribute this progress to increasing awareness about education in both urban and rural areas, steady enrolment in government and private schools, and improved teaching standards. Patna, the state capital, follows at 70.68 per cent, supported by its robust network of schools, colleges and coaching centres. Bhojpur claims third position with a literacy rate of 70.47 per cent, showing consistent improvement in recent years. In contrast, Purnia ranks at the bottom with the lowest literacy rate of 51.08 per cent. Education in this northeastern district has grown slowly due to poor infrastructure, lack of schools in remote villages and limited awareness among families. Sitamarhi and Katihar, with literacy rates of 52.05 per cent and 52.24 per cent respectively, also figure among the least literate districts. Officials say poverty, child labour and social barriers are key factors that continue to hinder children from attending schools in these regions. To bridge this educational gap, the Bihar government has introduced several initiatives including the Chief Minister Bicycle Scheme for Girls, Nutrition Education Campaign, and School Quality Improvement Programme. These schemes have started to show positive results, especially in boosting enrolment and reducing drop-out rates. While these schemes have begun showing results in select districts, experts stress the need to strengthen their reach and ensure better implementation, particularly in rural and backward areas. Educationists believe that bridging the literacy divide is essential for Bihar’s overall development, as literacy directly influences employment opportunities, social progress and economic growth.
