Demand grows in favour of departmental exam for promotions in Education Deptt

Srinagar, Jun 22: Voices are going shriller for the introduction of the departmental examination to order promotion of the employees including the teaching faculty of the schools. The demand has come to fore at a time when the School Education Department has been promoting its employees to their next level on basis of the seniority alone.

However, as per the stakeholders, the practice in vogue is not in the interest of the department where seniority should not be the only criteria when people talk about the efficient education system. As per the officials, the promotion of teachers without any assessment proves fatal for the overall education scenario.

Many stakeholders believe that while departmental exams are necessary for the promotion in many other departments, education should be the priority sector where merit should prevail by holding such exams. "By doing so, we will have competent teachers who will get a chance to serve at different places. Seniority should not be the only criteria when we are talking about the efficient education system," said Mehraj Sufi a school teacher from Baramulla district.

He said that the education system was facing different challenges and many of them were due to the stagnant promotion process. "Unless and until we won't have any departmental exams we should not expect any change in the system," he said.

The stakeholders believe that departmental examinations were crucial for assessing employees competency, ensuring promotions are based on merit, and improving overall departmental performance.

"Holding exams for promotions can also help to identify areas where employees need further training and development. All the departments are doing examinations for the promotion of their employees so that a competent, capable and qualified lot should come forward and run the affairs of the department," said Umar Bhat, another school teacher from Baramulla.

He said the education department, which needs highly skilled and proficient manpower more than other departments is the sole entity running away from departmental examination.

"This not only affects the smooth functioning of the department but makes it less attractive and disinteresting for those who want to contribute at higher levels," he said.

The teachers said that the model of the departmental examination in the education sector will create healthy competition among educators, making them 24/7 teachers.

"This will encourage teachers to improve skill thereby improving quality education, and concept updates, thereby initiating healthy competition among educators," Bhat said.

The teachers demand that seniority alone should not be the only eligibility for the promotions but the competence, skills and performance should also be assessed before promoting teachers.
According to stakeholders, the department should introduce a departmental examination for promotions to ensure a merit-based, transparent, and accountable system.

"Promotions should be either performance-based or exam-based; something that truly reflects capacity, competency, capability and dedication. After all, it is far better than promoting underperforming or disengaged officers, which can undermine the efficiency of the system and demotivate sincere and hardworking employees," said DrRabiaNaseem, senior lecturer school education department.

She said that when everyone receives the same treatment—regardless of their contribution or work ethic—it leads to a sense of disillusionment.

"They start to feel why to go the extra mile when it makes no difference. This not only dampens morale but also discourages a culture of excellence," she said.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, Secretary School Education Department (SED), RamNiwas Sharma said introduction of departmental examination for promotions has to be a policy decision and needs to be examined at departmental level.

"The suggestions and proposals to introduce departmental exams are good. But it has to be a policy decision and it will be examined at the department level before taking any final decision on it," he told Greater Kashmir.