Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 22: A delegation from the Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Association (JKTA), led by UT president Bhupinder Singh, met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today at the Civil Secretariat, here and discussed pressing education sector issues.
During the meeting, the JKTA highlighted the need for reforms in the School Education Department, with key areas such as character building, environmental awareness, management education, teacher education, and the promotion of indigenous languages being emphasized to enrich the learning experience for students across the Union Territory.
The delegation strongly advocated for the promotion of regional languages like Bhaderwahi, Bhalesi, Padri, Sarazi, and Pogali in school curriculums to preserve Jammu and Kashmir’s cultural heritage. One of the primary concerns raised was the stalled Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) process since 2014. The delegation also stressed the need for a single, streamlined attendance system for teachers, which the Chief Minister assured them of its implementation.
Additionally, the JKTA urged reforms in the Annual Transfer Drive (ATD) 2024, proposing that teacher transfers consider proximity to residences to reduce rural-urban staff imbalances. Other demands included a transparent transfer policy for Rehber-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers, regularization of Educational Volunteers (EVs), and the reduction of administrative burdens on teachers.
Earlier, the JKTA had also met with Education Minister Sakina Itoo to present these demands. The Minister had assured the delegation of her commitment to improving the education sector.
The delegation, which included Ishaq Rashid, Sunil Salaria, Tirath Singh, Sajad Malik, Mohd Saleem, Arjun Singh, Imran Majeed, and Jaffer Hussain, expressed optimism that their concerns would soon be addressed.
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