Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 20: Minister for Education Naeem Akhtar today said that Education Department was being run as transfer industry in the State in the past and after taking over the charge of the department, he was trying to streamline the system.
Replying to a question of BJP Member Vibod Gupta from Rajouri in the Upper House today, the Minister said earlier, right from top to bottom including directors and CEOs were the part of this industry and were doing the same job for their bosses. “ We tried to streamline the system and brought new transfer policy and also introduced concept of Transfer Melas for teachers. But still there are gaps which are being plugged,” he maintained.
Gupta referred to some irregularities committed by the CEO in Rajouri and asked whether the same would be rectified. He also provided a list where premature transfers were made while many overstaying teachers/ masters were not touched. The minister, however, assured the member to get the matter investigated.
Naeem said in Kashmir zone the transfer of teachers is made during winter vacations and in Jammu the same takes place during summer vacations to avoid disruption during mid-session. He claimed that transfer of the teachers is being made strictly under transfer policy but still there are certain flaws in the system and needed improvement.
The Education Minister said the Government has initiated series of reforms to bring transparency in the working of Education department. “The Department has created a data-base wherein all information regarding, transfers, school buildings, roll of students and number of teachers posted in each school is available,” he said adding that data bank is bound to go a long way in bringing transparency in transfers and postings.
The Minister said that irregularities in transfers of the teachers and other staff, if any, would be looked into. He assured BJP member and others to bring to his notice any irregularities so that action can be taken in this regard. He also sought the cooperation of the members.
Naeem said the basic purpose for the engagement of Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers under SSA is to teach a particular locality having low literacy rate and the transfer of such teachers will fail the very basic purpose of the scheme and no such transfer policy is yet in place. He, however, said the Government would take a view on the transfer of ReTs after their regularization in such a way that the spirit of the policy does not get affected.
In reply to main question, the Minister said 33 Principals and equivalents, 61 Headmasters and 117 Lecturers besides 453 teachers and 24 newly promoted masters were transferred during last one year in Rajouri district. He said 24 new masters have been adjusted so far and adjustment of remaining promotees is under examination of the department.
NC Member Qaiser Jamshed Lone and Congress Member Sham Lal Bhagat raised supplementary questions.
Follow our WhatsApp channel