Teacher deployment in offices sparks debate
Srinagar, Jan 9: Differences within the School Education Department (SED) over the deployment of teachers in offices have triggered a debate among stakeholders, with contrasting approaches being followed in the Jammu and Kashmir divisions.
While authorities in the Jammu division have ordered the dissolution of all cells and cancelled the deployment of teaching staff in offices, the practice continues largely unchecked in offices across the Kashmir division, prompting questions over the use of different yardsticks by the department.
On Tuesday, the Directorate of School Education Jammu issued an order cancelling the deployment of teachers in all zonal- and district-level offices. In a circular, the Director School Education Jammu noted that despite repeated instructions, teaching staff continued to be engaged in office work in the offices of Chief Education Officers (CEOs) and Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs).
The circular stated that teachers are meant exclusively for academic duties and should not be utilised for clerical or administrative work in the CEO and ZEO offices or any other administrative setup. It directed all CEOs and ZEOs to relieve such staff immediately and ensure their reporting back to their respective schools.
The DSEJ also instructed Drawing and Disbursing Officers to stop the salaries of teachers in case of non-compliance, warning that any deviation from the directions would be viewed seriously and could invite disciplinary action under the relevant rules.
The orders have been issued at a time when teacher deputation in offices continues in the Kashmir division. Teachers are posted in various offices, including the Directorate of School Education Kashmir, often without any fixed cap on the deputation period.
Several teachers deputed to ZEO and CEO offices in the Kashmir division have been assigned different designations and are managing various components for extended periods. Earlier, Director School Education Kashmir Naseer Ahmad Wani had stated that the services of teachers are utilised as per office requirements and that such deputations are for a fixed tenure.
However, stakeholders point out that, contrary to this assertion, some teachers have continued to function as coordinators of different components for over two decades.
As reported earlier, the DSEJ in June last year had ordered the dissolution of all cells established at the directorate, district and zonal levels, citing the need to strengthen school-level teaching and learning processes. The order had emphasised that teachers must primarily serve in schools to improve learning outcomes and ensure holistic development of students, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Amid the ongoing debate, stakeholders have demanded strict implementation of the DSEJ circular and similar action in the Kashmir division. Teachers have also raised concerns about certain categories, such as cultural coordinators, who they allege have enjoyed prolonged stints in offices at zonal and district levels without replacement for decades.
“These teachers have not attended the schools for which they were originally recruited,” a teacher said, seeking uniform enforcement of the policy across both divisions.
