Contractual basis: SED to hire 164 CRCs, 550 subject specific teachers to overcome dearth

Srinagar, Jul 20: Amid the 4000 vacant positions of the lecturers, the School Education Department (SED) has decided to hire contractual Cluster Resource Coordinators (CRCs) and subject specific teachers through Samagra to overcome the dearth of teaching faculty in Higher Secondary Schools (HSS) across Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier, SED would shift Post Graduate (PG) degree holders from Primary and Middle Schools to high and higher secondary schools temporarily, to overcome the dearth of subject specific teachers and lecturers.

However, as the posts of lecturers continue to remain vacant, the education department has decided to hire CRCs and also recruit Subject specific teachers on contract basis through Samagra Shiksha.

The education department last year hired over 600 CRCs for higher secondary schools who were allowed to continue during the current academic session as well.

However, given the dearth of lecturers, the SED has issued notification for hiring of more 164 CRCs for schools as students are still without subject specific teachers and lectures in schools, despite the passage of half of the academic session.

Currently the education department has sanctioned strength of 10330 lecturers against which only 6130 are filled and 4200 posts are vacant.

Earlier, the J&K government referred 594 positions of lecturers to J&K Public Service Commission (PSC) for direct recruitment while filling of vacant posts under promotion quota is under process.

As per the notification issued by Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) online applications have been invited from the post-graduate candidates for their hiring on temporary basis as "Cluster Resource Coordinator for Teaching Support for academic session 2024-25 (revised) in various government high and higher secondary schools in Kashmir.

"The hiring shall be made, purely on a temporary basis for the academic session 2024-25 (Revised) in various government high and higher secondary schools," the notification reads.

Besides, an official communication has been sent to Project Director Samagra Shiksha by SED for rehiring of subject specific teachers on contract basis for one academic session. "I am directed to request you to convey the administrative approval for engaging 550 subject specific teachers for the academic year 2025-26 for upgraded high schools," reads an official communication signed by deputy secretary SED.

Project Director Samagra has been asked that the candidates be hired after having their due screening for determining their eligibility prior to the issuance of engagement orders. "The engagement will not confer any right of regularisation on the post to these selectees," it reads.

Minister for Education, Sakina Itoo when contacted said the hiring of subject specific teachers will prove beneficial for the students.

"The department has funds available for this under Samagra Shiksha and the move will provide academic support to the students," she said.