Chief Secretary calls for performance-based promotions in SED

Srinagar, Jul 26: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary (CS) Atul Dulloo has called for promotion of teachers and other employees of School Education Department (SED) on the basis of performance in addition to their seniority.

He said this while chairing a review meeting of SED on July 18, 2025.

The meeting was chaired to review the overall performance of the department, including punctuality of staff, Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), inspection of schools besides other issues as well.

As per the official document, the CS while taking review of teachers’ training, directed the department to focus on teachers’ training, particularly at elementary level to improve the quality of education imparted to students.

“Special focus should be laid on training of teachers, particularly elementary teachers and their performance should be reviewed periodically. In general, the promotion should be based on performance in addition to seniority,” the official document reads.

While taking review of Vidya Samiksha Kendra and the establishment of Studio, Chief Secretary directed that the content be created in four languages- Dogri, Kashmlri, Urdu, Hindi and English for proper communication and understanding.

“A meeting with Deputy Commissioners be arranged for awareness and review at district level about the use of VSK and its data for monitoring and data driven planning,” the official document reads.

During the meeting, Secretary SED presented a Power Point Presentation highlighting the physical and financial achievements of the department besides appraising CS about the issues and challenges being faced by the department.

While taking review of the punctuality and attendance of the staff, CS has directed the department that an IT supported system should be devised for monitoring the attendance of the teachers and its linkage with salary disbursement.

“The salary of the employees who remained absent without any reason or leave should be stopped immediately. All the DDOs shall look into the attendance before the drawal of salary of the teachers,” the official document reads.

J&K CS has also stressed the mapping of Anganwadi centres while taking review of Early Child Care Education (ECCE) to ensure that every child is enrolled in school at the age of three years.

“The Anganwadi centres should be mapped with the nearest school for 100% transition of children from Anganwadi to nearest school in Pre-primary classes of age group of three to six years,” the official document reads.

CS has stressed for inspection of one school at least on a weekly basis virtually at levels to explore the possibility of generating a report through Vidya Samiksha Kendra for analysis and monitoring.

“The responsibility should be fixed of the concerned CEO, ZEO for mismanagement or performance of the school of their respective jurisdiction,” the official document reads.

Regarding establishment of ICT laboratories and Smart classrooms in schools, CS expressed concern over budget utilisation on components like the establishment of ICT laboratories, smart classrooms, innovative Laboratories under Samagra Shiksha.

“The chair has shown concern about budget utilization and directions were issued to expedite the process for establishing sanctioned labs and smart classrooms to ensure full utilization of funds for achievement of targets,” the official document reads.

While taking a review of the operationalisation of girls hostels, CS was apprised that 46 girls hostels were completed out of which five hostels have been made functional.

“Directions were issued to the project director Samagra Shiksha and both the directors of Kashmir and Jammu division to make the completed hostels functional at an earliest,” the official document reads.

J&K CS has also directed the department to expedite the process of engagement of subject specific teachers and CRCs to overcome the shortage of teaching faculty at higher secondary level.

“Project Director Samagra Shiksha besides Director Education Kashmir and Jammu were directed to monitor the progress of the civil works for their timely completion keeping in view the working season in Kashmir division and hilly areas across Jammu,” the official document reads.