Over 3,300 Teaching Posts Vacant Across Jammu Kashmir; No New Recruitment Since 2019

SRINAGAR: More than 3,300 teaching posts are lying vacant across Jammu and Kashmir, with the Government confirming that no new recruitment has taken place in the past two years.

In a written reply to a starred question by MLA Sham Lal Sharma, the School Education Department said that while the sanctioned strength of teachers and masters across both divisions remains substantial, 2,233 posts are vacant in Jammu Division and 1,127 in Kashmir Division.

According to the figures provided, the total sanctioned strength of masters in Jammu Division is 6,787, out of which 4,895 are in position, leaving 1,892 vacancies. Of these, 991 posts are occupied by in-charge headmasters and lecturers, and 700 are reserved under various categories, bringing the net functional vacancies to 201. However, when combined with the shortfall in the teacher cadre, which has 22,785 sanctioned posts with 22,441 in position, the overall vacancies across both categories add up to 2,233 in the Jammu Division.

In Kashmir division, the sanctioned strength of masters is 7,386, with 6,411 in position and 975 vacancies. Of these, 915 are reserved or under administrative process, leaving a functional shortfall. In the teacher cadre, 28,406 posts are sanctioned and 28,254 are in position, leaving 152 vacancies — taking the total number of unfilled positions in the division to 1,127.

The reply further stated that no recruitment has been carried out during the last two years. In Jammu Division, the last major recruitment drive took place in 2016 for General Line, Science/Maths, and Urdu teachers, while in Kashmir Division, the last such process was conducted in 2019.

District-wise data for Jammu Division shows that Samba district has 49 general teachers, 31 science/maths teachers, and eight Urdu teachers; Udhampur has 69, 35, and 11 respectively; Reasi has 28, 14, and five; and Rajouri has none in the general category, four in science/maths, and one in Urdu — taking the total to 146 general, 84 science/maths, and 25 Urdu teachers recruited since 2016. However, the Government confirmed that no fresh recruitment has been made since 2019.

In Kashmir, officials said that hundreds of schools continue to face staff shortages, particularly in science, mathematics, and Urdu subjects, despite internal adjustments. The teacher cadre figure includes 10,961 teachers recruited under the erstwhile Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme, now re-designated as RReTs, who are working against the sanctioned teacher posts.
The Government also admitted that many schools remain non-functional or have been clubbed due to low enrolment, short inter-school distances, or infrastructure constraints. The list includes 289 schools in Baramulla, 509 in Bandipora, 376 in Kupwara, and 14 in Shopian which have been closed due to zero enrolment.

The School Education Department said it is rationalising staff strength and reviewing the clubbing of schools to ensure better deployment of available human resources. However, with over 3,300 vacancies and no recruitment in the past two years, the shortage of teachers continues to affect the functioning of government schools across Jammu and Kashmir.