JK govt promotes over 10K teaching staff to over come shortage

Jammu and Kashmir government has promoted over ten thousand teaching staff and regularised more than five thousand lecturers in just three months to check the shortage of professionals in the education department.
"In short span besides preoccupations of assembly over 10,000 promotions have been made, more than 5,000 lecturers have been regularised and around 13,000 vacancies have been referred to concerned recruitment agencies," Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand told PTI.
Education department of the state had been suffering with acute shortage of teaching staff particularly lectures and masters due to upgrading of the large number of schools.
The deputy chief minister said that instructions have been issued to SSB and PSC for ensuring fast track recruitment for the said posts and en-masse promotions at all levels in the department has been done both for teaching as well as non teaching staff.

Underlining commitment of the government to improve education scenario in the state, he said that in order to customise the department according to modern day education requirements, work on drafting a new education policy is underway and very soon the state shall have a futuristic policy in place.
He added that the government has already framed the State Education Advisory Board for the purpose of formulating education policy and administration.

"The board besides Chairman will have five ex-officio members and six non-officio members who would be eminent educationists of the state and would give suggestions on formulating an education policy keeping in view the requirements and topographical constrains," he added.

Stressing on keeping a tab on private school fee structure, Chand said the government, as per the directions of Supreme Court, has framed a committee, headed by retired Chief Justice, for fixation of fee structure of private educational institutes to prevent cases of profiteering, payment of capitation or unjustified charging of fee in any other manner.
"All these steps have been taken in order to ensure that morale of teaching fraternity gets a boost and they rededicate themselves towards their professional commitments," he added.
Chand said very soon a comprehensive transfer policy would be framed for rationalising transfers in which four zones would be created as per the topography of the area.

Those suffering from life consuming diseases and over 55 years of age would be suitably adjusted as per the policy and female staff would get postings in those schools which have proper road connectivity, he added.