Srinagar: School Education Minister Sakeena Masood Itoo on Thursday assured the teaching fraternity that the government would examine all genuine and long-pending service-related issues sympathetically and address them on priority.
She gave the assurance while addressing a one-day Teachers’ Convention organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Joint Action Committee (JKTJAC) at Teachers’ Bhawan, Bemina.
Speaking at the convention, the minister described teachers as key contributors to nation-building and said the School Education Department had undertaken several administrative reforms to improve human resource management and clear long-pending service matters.
She said the department had initiated the placement of eligible postgraduate teachers as in-charge lecturers to address faculty shortages in higher secondary schools.
Highlighting recent administrative measures, Itoo said updated final seniority lists for 31 of the 36 disciplines, covering 20,281 postgraduate masters and postgraduate teachers, had been issued after several years. She added that the final seniority list of 3,509 headmasters had also been notified.
The minister said the department had also placed 136 senior lecturers as in-charge principals, 22 principals as in-charge Chief Education Officers and 1,083 masters as in-charge headmasters. She added that 594 lecturer posts in 27 subjects had been referred to the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission, which has recommended 537 candidates in 26 subjects.
Acknowledging concerns raised by teachers, Itoo said the government was aware of the challenges faced by the teaching community and remained committed to resolving genuine grievances in a transparent and time-bound manner.
She also assured participants that the department would continue engaging with stakeholders to strengthen the education system and protect the interests of teachers.
On the occasion, the minister distributed appointment orders and 55 promotion orders under various categories.
The convention was attended by Special Secretary, School Education Department, Ghulam Rasool Mir; Director School Education Kashmir, Naseer Ahmad Wani; Chief Education Officer Srinagar; senior officials of the department and representatives of the teaching fraternity from across Jammu and Kashmir.
