J&K has 22000 'untrained' teachers

As many as 22,000 of the 90,000 elementary teachers in Jammu and Kashmir are untrained.
"The (Education) department has more than 22,000 untrained teachers... In future, only graduate teachers with requisite teachers training should be inducted into the department," Governor N N Vohra said during a review meeting of the School Education Department here today.
He laid stress on providing adequate opportunities to the teaching faculty to enhance their competence and directed that all elementary teachers should be given refresher training relevant to their teaching curriculum and also provided with foundation course in computers to encourage increased usage of IT and e-learning in teaching practices.

In view of the deficiency of science and mathematics teachers, Vohra asked the department to reserve certain posts for these two streams while making fresh recruitments.
The Governor directed Secretary, School Education to critically identify and devote sustained attention to improve the quality of school education, an official spokesman said.
The Governor was informed that salaries due to RET (Rehbar-e-Taleem) teachers have been paid up to January 2016 and provision is now available to fully meet the state's share.

He asked the Chief Secretary to take up with the Ministry of Human Resource Development the issue of timely availability of the central share under SSA and RMSA to enable the State School Education Department to ensure that all teachers are paid salaries on time.

The Secretary, School Education informed that all RET teachers will be provided five-day refresher training, for which a special module has been developed.
The Governor also directed the Secretary to take necessary steps for time-bound construction of 68 girls hostels.