Teacher deputation in SCERT raises questions on J&K SED

Srinagar, Aug 25: Over the years, the deputation of teaching staff in DIETS and SCERT has come under scanner as the department allegedly resorts to pick and choose policy for posting teachers in these research institutes. Amid the claims of the Jammu and Kashmir School Education Department (SED) to uphold accountability and transparency, the department has once again resorted to pick and choose policy.

Few years ago, SED, amid outcry, initiated a selection process of teaching staff for their posting in DIET and SCERT. However the process was executed once and later the department again resorted to pick and choose policy for the deputation of teaching staff in SCERT and DIETs.

“There is no accountability for these influential teachers. They enjoy prolonged stints in the SCERT, DIETs or any other offices. This is a very wrong trend in the department,” a senior lecturer told Greater Kashmir, wishing not to be named.

“During the selection process the same old teachers and lecturers who were in SCERT for many years were again allowed to continue their deputation in SCERT,” the lecturer said.

Few months ago, SED ordered transfers of few lecturers in which some influential lecturers who had served in different cells at the Directorate were shifted to DIETs without going through any selection process. On top of it, the teaching faculty who served in erstwhile SIE and now SCERT for more than 13 years were adjusted in different cells at the Directorate.

The adjustment was made weeks after the department ordered that teachers may be relieved from offices at different levels.

The department however justifies the adjustment while attributing it to a policy notified by the government in 2003. “Even if the adjustment is done in accordance with the government policy, the department should not pick and choose a few influential teachers who are rotated from SCERT to DIET and then to different cells at the Directorate. Rotating them from SCERT to DIET and to offices breaks their tenure but they do not go to the schools,” another lecturer told Greater Kashmir.

While the teachers who work diligently and give their blood and sweat in schools are accountable for their work. However, teachers deputed in SCERT or different cells have no such accountability requirements. “They are never held accountable for their primary job of teaching,” the lecturer said.

Currently, J&K State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) is without a permanent director but the government seems to be least bothered about the issue.

“There are some teachers and lecturers who have more than four years of tenure in SCERT but are still continuing there. There is no proper system to check the tenure of these teaching faculty members in SCERT,” a senior master complained. Amid the complaints, minister for education, Sakina Itoo said the issue will be examined. “I will take up the issue with the department and ascertain the details about the tenure of these teachers in SCERT,” Sakina Itoo told Greater Kashmir.