Transfer Policy for ReT, Grade II & III teachers, need of the hour

The School Education Department (SED) last week notified the schedule for Online Transfer Drive (OTD) of teaching staff for the academic year 2024-25.

The notification issued by the department had minute details about the process for submission of the transfer application and their acceptance as well.

However, the notification issued by the Principal Secretary SED has clearly mentioned that the Teacher-Grade-II, Grade III, RReTs and 3rd Teachers are not covered under this transfer Policy.

It may seem normal to the officers at the helm of affairs to exclude these teachers in the transfer policy but this exclusion is the main reason for the stagnation of these teachers who have been at the forefront to carry forward every mission of the department.

These teachers are being excluded in the transfer policy only because their recruitment was done at local (village) level. But considering the role of these teachers (RReT, Grade II, III), the department has no excuse to exclude them in the transfer policy.

For over two decades, the Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers as well as the erstwhile SSA teachers presently serving in the department as Grade II and Grade III teachers, have played a pivotal role in shaping the education landscape in Jammu and Kashmir.

These teachers have been the backbone of the government education sector, particularly in rural and far-flung areas where the educational system was almost shut before the launch of ReT scheme and the inception of the centrally sponsored scheme- erstwhile SSA now Samagara Shiksha.

Despite their contributions, these teachers continue to face stagnation and injustice due to the absence of a proper transfer policy.

The ReT and SSA teachers were recruited in the department in early 2000s. While the ReT teachers were smoothly regularised after passage of five years of their services, the erstwhile SSA teachers had to face a lot of struggle which included denial of their monthly salaries for months together.

After facing a lot of struggle, the SSA teachers were absorbed as Grade II and Grade III teachers in 2018. The teachers who were recruited as graduates were absorbed as Grade II teachers while those recruited as under graduates were absorbed as Grade III teachers. However, the majority of these teachers have enhanced their qualifications over the years while taking advantage of the opportunities and the facilities available with the government, as per set norms.

While some enhanced their qualification post recruitment, scores of the teachers were either holding PG degrees or Doctorates at the time of their recruitment.

The contributions of ReT, Grade II and Grade III teachers cannot be overlooked because these teachers have been agents of change in their communities.

These teachers have encouraged parents to enroll their children to school besides helping the department to reduce the dropout rates as well.

These teachers have been instrumental in implementing various government schemes and initiatives aimed at improving literacy and education standards.

Amid the declining graph of the enrollment in schools established in towns and cities, these ReT, Grade II and Grade III teachers have been instrumental in maintaining the retention rate in the government schools. These schools have helped the department by maintaining encouraging student enrollment in the schools in far off areas.

Besides putting in their efforts in significantly improving the enrollment, these teachers have guided the students in getting recognition at national international level.

Even though a group of teachers among these ReT, Grade II and Grade III teachers have managed their prolonged stay in the offices at different levels after their recruitment as teachers in the department, the majority of these teachers have given their blood and sweat in bringing reforms in the education sector at elementary level. These teachers have served in the schools in remote areas while facing all odds.

Despite their invaluable contributions, the ReT and Grade II and III teachers have been left in a state of professional stagnation.

The lack of a transfer policy for these teachers is a glaring issue as most of these teachers have been serving in the same schools for over two decades. This lack of mobility not only limits their professional growth but also affects their personal lives.

Being stuck at one place for an extended period can lead to lack of motivation, which ultimately impacts the quality of education they provide.

Besides male teachers, the female teachers who have got married out of zones or districts, post recruitment, have been the worst victims because of their exclusion in the transfer policy.

Being recruited at primary and middle school level, these teachers also contribute at secondary and senior secondary level schools to overcome shortage of subject specific teachers and lecturers in these schools.

Despite serving in all levels of schools, these teachers are deprived of proper transfer policy. These teachers, particularly Grade II and Grade III teachers are excluded from transfers despite being absorbed against clear vacancies in the department besides occupying some super supernumerary posts which were created at the time of their regularisation.

Excluding these teachers from a transfer policy is a grave injustice. Being absorbed against the vacant positions in the department, these ReT, Grade II, Grade III teachers can be reshuffled at least within zones or clusters. This move will provide an exposure to these teachers and great learning experience as well.

The government’s decision to exclude these teachers from transfer policy sends a message of neglect, not acknowledging their contribution towards the department. These teachers deserve recognition and support, not neglect.

The way this teaching community has been serving in the department, it is the right time for the department to address the issue of their stagnation by not framing a transfer policy for these teachers.

Once the teachers are reshuffled after a period of three or four years, it will definitely bring fresh perspectives to their teaching experiences and expose them to different environments. Under the process, the experienced teachers can be posted in such schools where their skills are needed while on the other hand the teachers themselves can learn new teaching techniques from their new colleagues.

The ReT, Grade II and Grade III teachers have been the torchbearers of education in J&K’s rural areas. Their commitment has transformed the education sector in remote and cut off areas across J&K.

So to conclude, the SED, which has recently notified the schedule for the transfers of teaching staff for the academic year 2024-25, should also frame at least inter-zone or intra-zone transfer policy for these Grade II and Grade III teachers. It will not only overcome their stagnation but also be a reward for their contributions from the department.