Srinagar Dec 29:Jammu Kashmir Teachers’ Forum held a press conference at Standard Hotel in Srinagar. The press conference was jointly addressed by the forum president, Mohammad Akbar Khan & the general secretary Arsalan Habib. Flanked by Central, Provincial and district body leaders, the duo, besides raising the issues of teachers suggested a slew of measures for the greater good of the department. Addressing the media, Khan sought the attention of the authorities towards the miserable plight of head-teachers. He said that masters working as head-teachers in SSA schools have not as yet been adjusted on substantive posts.
The president expressed displeasure on the slow pace at which the things are moving and demanded immediate creation of posts for head-teachers. He further added that a batch of masters promoted in the year 2014 is still awaiting confirmation. The issue has been brought to the notice of authorities on umpteen occasions but is pending resolution. He urged upon the authorities to issue the confirmation orders of these masters.
There are cases where the 7th CPC arrears of masters have not been paid and this needs to be looked into and redressed. Highlighting the issues faced by R.e.T’s, Grade II and Grade III teachers, Mr Arsalan Habib said that authorities must immediately issue the pending Grade II and Grade III orders. Whereas, a large number of RRT’s have been transitioned into Grade II and Grade III but there are still some whose orders have not been issued.
He further said that the conversion files of RRT’s whose cases were kept on hold owing to adverse verification status should be disposed off promptly. Similarly, Rehbar-e-Taleem Teachers who have completed five years’ service should be regularized and subsequently converted into Grade II/Grade III teachers. Demanding a comprehensive transfer policy for Grade II and Grade III teachers, Mr Habib said that the demand has been under the active consideration of the department from years but still a transfer policy in favour of these teachers has not surfaced. The president, Mr Mohammad Akbar Khan, sought the attention of the authorities towards the erroneous framing of seniority lists of teachers.
In certain Districts reportedly two separate lists have been framed one for the general line teachers and the PMSP teachers and the other for erstwhile SSA teachers. This has created confusion among the teachers and the confusion needs to be cleared. In this context he sought the intervention of DSEK.
Urging the authorities to quickly dispose off the time bound promotion (IN-SITU) cases, Mr Khan said that grant of time bound promotion cases for non-gazetted cadre should be completely decentralized and CEO’s should be authorized to dispose off the cases at district level. The current procedure of the visit of an officer/official from the Directorate to district’s consumes a lot of time and causes an inordinate delay in the whole process. Mr Khan pressed for an immediate restoration of the non-vacational status of principals, headmasters and those employees who are actively contributing during winter vacations. The President further said that there is a dire need to rationalize the teaching staff in schools.
The just concluded enrollment drive has further necessitated the rationalization process. He reiterated that there are schools in lower/City belts which have surplus staff whereas the schools in the upper/far flung belts are staff deficient. A proper rationalization exercise should be undertaken this winter to ensure adequate staff to each Primary, Middle and High School. While demanding an immediate fulfillment of vacancies of teaching and non teaching staff in schools, Mr Khan said that paucity of staff in offices and schools hampers the functioning of these institutions.
He said that the Government must fulfill the vacancies of C.E.O’s, D.I.E.T Principals, Higher Secondary Principals, Z.E.O’s, Z.E.P.O’s Lecturers, Teachers, Clerical Staff and Class IV employees without any further delay.
The President sought an end to the pay disparity of masters in the pre revised pay scale. The issue of the regulation of teachers’ welfare fund was also raised and the essence of its regulation was duly highlighted. Urging the authorities to bring the salaries of teachers at par with their counterparts in other union territories Mr Mohammad Akbar Khan said that for a range of duties that teachers perform in JK, they must enjoy those privileges that their counterparts get in the rest of the country particularly the other U.T’s. While proposing various measures to streamline the department the forum president said that infrastructure up- gradation needs to be undertaken on priority basis.
Hailing the efforts of all the stakeholders in the grand success achieved in the just concluded enrollment drive, the president added that now the onus lies with all of us to retain the enrolled students in our schools. The enrollment drive has ensured kindergarten classes to almost all the schools. He said that SCERT which is the nodal agency in curriculum development should work towards preparing a curriculum in accordance to NCF guidelines for K.G classes. In this regard all the DIETS should be mobilized to propose a curriculum for KG classes so that a curriculum is readily available when the schools open after the winter break. Further teachers should be trained in ECCE and Kindergarten School Affairs by the respective DIETS as was done previously with the designated Kindergarten Schools. Mr Khan requested the authorities to resume winter camps and super-50 centers.
He said that learners are already thronging private tuition centers and Government must think about restarting winter classes and super-50 centers where some fixed students are mentored by following all the COVID-19 protocols as issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.