Conversion of ReTs into G-II, G-III teachers halted recruitment in SED since 2018: Govt

Srinagar, Mar 26: The Jammu and Kashmir government has admitted that the conversion of ReT teachers into Grade II and Grade III teachers halted recruitments since 2018 which resulted in the dearth of staff in schools. As per the official documents, the government schools from primary to higher secondary level are facing dearth of staff as no recruitments of General line teacher posts could be made for the last six years.

"The recruitments could not be made in view of SAC decision of the 2018 wherein the posts of General Line Teachers and non-teaching cadre posts stand freezed for conversion of ReTs into Grade-II and Grade-III," the official document reads.

The issue about the dearth of staff in schools was raised by MLA Sham Lal Sharma during the ongoing budget session of the J&K Legislative Assembly. The government in its reply has revealed that a large number of retirements over the years and subsequent non filling up of substantial numbers of posts has added to the shortage of staff in the schools.

"Due to promotions mostly from teacher cadre to master cadre, the large number of posts of teachers remained vacant," the official document reads. Also, there has been no creation of teaching and non-teaching posts during the last two years in the J&K's School Education Department (SED). "Consequently, no recruitments have been made in the department," the official document reads. Regarding the upgradation of schools, the government has revealed that no up-gradation or opening of new schools has taken effect in Jammu and Kashmir during the last two years including Jammu north constituency. The government has further admitted that the decrease in student enrollment led to the closure of schools. "Due to slight decrease in enrollment and decline in the teaching staff, the School Education Department has clubbed or merged some schools across J&K," the official document reads. With regard to Jammu North Constituency, the government has revealed that 16 Primary Schools were clubbed or merged due to decline in the student enrollment in the schools. "However, the department will review all clubbed and merged cases and necessary steps shall be taken to de-club the required schools subject to increase in the enrolment and availability of staff," the official document reads.