80% lecturer positions vacant in Gurez schools: Government

Srinagar, Apr 3: The educational institutions in remote areas continue to remain out of sight of the government as around 80 percent of the lecturer positions are lying vacant in higher secondary schools of Gurez valley.

The revelation was made by the government during the ongoing Budget session of the J&K Legislative Assembly in response to a question raised by MLA Gurez Nazir Ahmad Khan.

MLA Gurez raised the issue about the “severe dearth” of teaching faculty in the higher secondary schools of Gurez constituency which has adversely affected the educational prospects of the students enrolled in these schools.

The government in its reply informed the House that out of 85 sanctioned posts of lecturers only 25 posts were filled while 60 positions of the lecturers were lying vacant in the Gurez. “To overcome the shortage of staff at the +2 level Zone Gurez, series of local postgraduate teachers and masters are being utilized against the vacant lecturer positions, and CRCs are being engaged,” the government in its reply informed the Assembly.

The government further said that the administrative department was actively pursuing the promotion aspects which is expected to narrow down the gap.

However sharing school wise details, the government informed the Legislative Assembly that 12 posts of lecturers were vacant in Boys Higher Secondary School (BHSS) PuranaTulail while seven posts were vacant in BHSS and six posts were lying vacant in BHSS Baduab.

The government further informed that seven posts were vacant in Girls HSS Dawer, BHSSS Izmarg (9), BHSS Badugam (9) and HSS Kilshat (10). “594 vacancies of lecturers of different subjects have been referred to the J&K Public Service Commission (JKPSC). The selection lists of these vacancies are in final stages and selections have been received in some subjects,” the government said.

The House was informed that the department has already initiated the exercise of placing eligible PG masters and PG teachers as in-charge lecturers to fill up the vacancies arising in schools. “Since January 2026, 48 PG Masters/Teachers in the discipline of Geography, 87 in the discipline of Political Science, and 10 in the discipline of Dogri have been placed as in-charge lecturers,” the government said. The Government further said that the School Education Department was contemplating placing more PG masters in other disciplines as in-charge lecturers to fill up the vacancies of lecturers.

“The teachers currently on deputation outside Gurez have also been detached and repatriated back to Gurez,” Government informed the House. As already reported, in February this year, CEO Bandipora was put under suspension a day after he cancelled the deputation of teaching staff in Bandipora and repatriated them to their original place of posting Gurez. On Monday, minister for education Sakina Itoo revealed in the Legislative Assembly that around 150 lecturers and principals of Gurez were working in urban areas. She said that all these lecturers will be sent back to their original place of posting, provided there is no “undue influence” from any quarters.

She said that directions were already issued to the Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) to detach these teachers from their current postings and send them back to their original place of postings in Gurez,” she informed the House. “There should be no undue influence or recommendations from any member or other quarters if these lecturers and principals are sent back to their original place of postings,” Sakina Itoo said in the Assembly.