DSEK acknowledges dearth of teachers in schools, attributes it to no fresh recruitments

Baramulla, Dec 13: The Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK), Naseer Ahmad Wani, on Saturday acknowledged the dearth of teaching staff in government schools of rural areas and attributed it to the no fresh recruitments in the department in the last many years.

Talking to Greater Kashmir on the sidelines of a function organised by JK Teachers Forum (JKTF) at Government Degree College Baramulla, DSEK said the department hires Cluster Resource Coordinators (CRCs) or rationalises the teaching staff in schools to overcome the dearth of teachers in schools.

"We are aware of the dearth of teachers in rural schools, which is mainly because no fresh recruitment has been done during the last many years. But we manage it by way of rationalisation or hiring CRCs," he told Greater Kashmir.

About the prolonged stint of government school teachers in different offices, DSEK said the role of teachers was beyond teaching but that does not justify the lifetime deployment of teaching staff in offices at the district or directorate level.

"The teachers' role is beyond teaching, and wherever we feel the requirement, we call the teachers to the CEO's offices or directorate to shape the policies for the betterment of students. We have different wings in the department where the services are utilised for a particular time period," he told Greater Kashmir.

He said the deployment of teachers was never aimed at keeping them in offices for a lifetime. "We deploy them as and when their services are required," he said.

About the infrastructural gaps in schools, DSEK Naseer Ahmad Wani said the overall situation in terms of infrastructure has improved in government schools.

"But we still have gaps in some schools, which are being identified, and better infrastructure will be provided to all the schools," he said.

About the hanging schools which were upgraded without the creation of staff, Wani said the department was aware of the issue and a decision will be taken in the near future.

"The issue is under consideration of the department, deliberations are being held, and a decision will be taken very soon," he said.

About the transfers, DSEK said the department will utilise winter vacation months to order a reshuffling of the teaching staff and ensure that the academic session goes smoothly after schools reopen post vacation.

"We will make 2026 a year of academic excellence," he said.