Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 17: The All J&K +2 Lecturers’ Forum, under the leadership of its Chairman R S Salathia, issued a strong and unequivocal warning to the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to immediately desist from any move to induct JKAS officers into the key administrative posts of Chief Education Officer (CEO) across the Union Territory.
Mr Salathia stated that the position of CEO has for decades been effectively and efficiently handled by officers promoted from within the School Education Department-individuals who have risen through the academic and administrative ranks with deep-rooted understanding of the functioning, challenges, and requirements of the education system. He said that officers from within the department have huge experience behind them and currently their experience is required the most as NEP 2020 has to be implemented effectively.
He emphasized that departmental officers possess unmatched experience, pedagogical insight, field exposure, and administrative expertise that cannot be substituted by generalist officers from outside the department. “Any attempt to undermine the seniority, competence, and legitimate promotional avenues of education service officers by bringing in JKAS officers will not be tolerated,” he asserted.
The Forum strongly condemned such proposals as arbitrary, unjustified, and detrimental to the education sector. It said that replacing seasoned education officers with administrative officers unfamiliar with academic processes would seriously hamper decision-making, disrupt institutional functioning, and demoralize the entire cadre of +2 Lecturers and other education professionals.
Mr Salathia further cautioned the Government that any move to dilute or infringe upon the administrative domain of the Education Department will invite strong and democratic agitation across Jammu and Kashmir.
The Forum urged the Government to respect the hierarchical structure, protect the legitimate service rights of departmental officers, and ensure that the post of CEO continues to be held by experienced and meritorious officers from within the School Education Department.
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