Education Deptt understaffed or managed?: 7 Baramulla zones without ZEOs; 1 principal holds charge of 4 HSSs, 1 zone

Baramulla, Aug 8: The School Education Department (SED) in Baramulla is hit with the acute dearth of officers at zonal level, hampering the day to day affairs of the department. Besides the zonal offices, over a dozen higher secondary schools have been rendered headless, adversely hampering the functioning of the clusters.

The Baramulla district has 18 education zones out of which six education zones are without permanent Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) and the posts are manned by the equivalent rank officials as their additional charge.

The move has raised serious concerns over functioning of the department at the zonal level.

The post of ZEO is one of the key positions which is entrusted with the monitoring of the schools besides keeping watch and ward on the academic performance of the schools. "Leaving the post of ZEO vacant does not hamper functioning of the office but also takes a toll on the schools," an official said.

The dearth of ZEOs has paved the way for the additional charge syndrome in the department as the department is giving charge of vacant ZEO posts to other equivalent rank officials as his additional assignment.

"But it is not humanly possible for one individual to run two or more than two offices simultaneously. The prevailing practice of assigning additional charge to the officials overburdens them which takes a toll on the efficiency of the officers," the official said.

In Baramulla district, education Zone Kunzer, Pattan, Tangmarg, Nehalpora, Jula, Fatehgarh, Rohama are lying vacant for the last several months.

The charge of ZEO Pattan has been given to Principal Higher Secondary School (HSS) Goshbugh as his additional assignment. The Principal is already holding additional charge of other higher secondary schools.

"Such arrangement can never bring efficiency in the system but puts it on the ventilator. The officers should on priority fill the vacant positions of ZEOs," an official said.

The charge of ZEO Tangmarg and ZEO Kunzer has been given to Principal HSS Kunzer while the charge of other vacant posts of ZEOs have been assigned to officials as their additional assignment.

Besides vacant posts of ZEOs, Baramulla district has over a dozen posts of HSS Principals vacant as well, hampering the academics of these institutions.

Government Boys HSS, one of the premier institutions of the town is currently without a principal.

In Uri, HSS Sultan Daki, HSS Nambla, Girls HSS Uri, Boys HSS Uri and HSS Bijhama are without permanent Principals as well. All the three higher secondary schools in Zone Uri are without a principal.

Principal HSS Salamabad holds the additional charge of HSS Sultan Dhaki, Girls HSS Uri and Boys HSS Uri. "Principal HSS Pahlipora holds the additional charge of HSS Nambla while Principal HSS Gingal holds additional charge of HSS Bijhama," an official said.

Minister for Education Sakina Itoo when contacted said the matter will be discussed with the department. "I will take up the matter with the department and seek a report from Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) in this regard. The matter will be looked into," Sakina Itoo said.