Madhepura: Smart classrooms are bringing technology into Bihar’s govt schools, but the expensive equipment installed for them is also drawing the attention of thieves. A middle school at Kalhua ward number 11 under Shankarpur police station in Madhepura district was burgled in the intervening night of Friday and Saturday with criminals making off with six ceiling fans and a projector used for smart classes.The thieves allegedly broke the locks of school rooms and escaped with the equipment. The theft disrupted regular classes at the school. “Regular classes session remained disturbed at the school after such the unexpected incident,” said Ramesh Kumar Raman, headmaster of the school. Assistant teacher Abdhesh Kumar Singh said a similar incident had occurred there earlier too.The theft soon became the talk of the village, drawing local representatives and residents to the school. They demanded immediate arrest of those involved and recovery of the stolen items.In Madhepura town, unidentified thieves recently unbolted an electric water pump from Urdu middle school at Maszid Chowk. The block education office in the town was also burgled on Friday night, raising concern among education officials.“Criminals do not hesitate even to target the schools and related govt office,” said district education officer Sanjay Kumar.Sources attributed the repeated thefts partly to inadequate boundary walls and grilled gates at schools. They also alleged police often fail to take proper action in such cases.The pattern extends beyond Madhepura. Smart-class equipment has been stolen from schools in different districts over the past two years.At Rajkiya Plus Two High School on Jheel Path in Haveli Kharagpur, Munger, an LED/LCD screen was stolen from a smart classroom on July 14, 2024.At Bharoundha High School in Gurua, Gaya, thieves took a 65-inch LCD, battery-inverter and printer on Feb 28, 2025.At Laldas Plus Two School in Kharauda, Araria Sangram, Madhubani, a TV set was stolen from the smart classroom on July 8, 2025. Equipment was also taken from the principal’s room.And on Oct 4, 2025, a smart-class projector was stolen from Plus Two Reuta High School in Chanan, Lakhisarai.What began as isolated thefts is now a recurring worry for schools that have received equipment under smart-class initiatives. Besides disrupting teaching, such thefts raise questions over whether the technology provided to students is adequately protected after installation.
