Transfer to remote areas on cards for teachers with prolonged tenure in cities, towns: Sakeena Itoo

Baramulla, Jun 23: The Minister for Education Sakeena Itoo on Monday said that the teachers who have been serving in the schools located in towns and cities for a long  time, will be shifted to the remote areas, as part of the rationalisation of the teachers in the government educational institutions.

This proposed move  comes amid the complaints of the lopsided pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR) in schools, wherein it has been reported that the number of teachers outnumber the students in most of the schools in Srinagar and Jammu city.

Talking to reporters during her visit to Gulmarg constituency of Baramulla district, Sakeena Itoo said the department has already started the rationalisation of teachers to ensure availability of adequate teaching staff in schools. "Rationalisation of teachers has already started since the formation of the National Conference government. We are still doing it and will do till the PTR gets streamlined in the schools," she said. The education minister said the teachers serving in city schools for more than a decade will be shifted to the remote areas. "Where there are more teachers, they will have to go to remote areas. And for those who have not been given duty in remote areas, it will be mandatory that they also spend at least a few years in remote areas. They should also have some experience of teaching students in these areas," Sakeena Itoo said.

She said the main motive is to provide quality education to the students.

About the intimidation of officers from different quarters, the education minister said that the officers should not worry about the criticism but should work in the interest of the public as per the rules and set norms. "If they work for the people, then it doesn't matter if they receive any criticism. Their work should benefit the public and should not be scared or worried about any pressure or criticism," the Education Minister said, while referring to the officers working in the education zone Tangmarg and Kunzer. She said the department has ordered promotions of officers at different levels since she assumed the charge as education minister. "These promotions in the education department were pending for the past many years. The transfer policy was not adopted in the education department but we have implemented these policies since the formation of this government," Sakina Itoo said.

About the additional charge trend prevailing in the department, the education minister said the arrangement is made because of having several vacant positions of the officers. "But as and when the positions are filled, there will be no trend of giving additional charges to any officers. Since the formation of this government the positions of CEO and ZEOs which were vacant for so many years have been filled. There were a lot of vacancies in the department and the number is getting reduced now," she said. About the reservation, the education minister said the policy was for the people and the government was serious about it. "Our Chief Minister is quite concerned about it and that is why the Committee was formed.

The Committee was given six months' time and the report was submitted to the cabinet," she said. An official press release said Minister for Health and Medical Education and Social Welfare Department, Sakeena Itoo visited several areas of Gulmarg Constituency and inaugurated development projects there. MLA Gulmarg, Peerzada Farooq Ahmad Shah; Director Social Welfare Kashmir; Director School Education Kashmir; Director Colleges J&K; Director Health Services Kashmir; Director AYUSH; Director Family Welfare and Immunization and other senior officers of district administration Baramulla accompanied the Minister, it added.