Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Dec 25: A one day conference of J&K United School Teachers Association (USTA) was held, here today for highlighting issues of the Government run schools and the teachers.
Held under the presidium comprising of Dr Shashi Pal Singh, Rattan Singh, Vinayak Sharma, S Gurmeet Singh and Vijay Kumar, the conference was attended by school teachers working in various educational zones viz Lakhanpur, Mahanpur, Basohli, Billawar, Barnoti, Sallan and Hiranagar, who deliberated upon various issues confronting the teaching fraternity working in UT Government run schools.
Addressing the conference, Dr Shashi Pal Singh, Provincial President (USTA) stated that teachers are facing many issues requiring Government attention. He called for serious introspection on the part of Government to strengthen educational sector in Jammu and Kashmir.
Expressing dismay over the withdrawal of ATD-2022 and subsequent delay in postings of Masters and Teachers serving in difficult terrain for the past more than seven years, Dr Singh said that school administration has not smoothened the transfer process as the timeline for postings under ATD-2022 has gone completely haywire. He further stressed the need for desisting the school teachers from non academic duties as it is posing a serious threat to the students’ quality of education.
Reacting over the dismal status of promotions of various cadres in School Education Department, Association said the DPC meeting for promotion of Masters has not been convened since February 2014 with the result several teachers have superannuated without promotion. He also demanded immediate conceding of their demand of Assured Career Progression (ACP) and regularization of Lecturers, Headmasters, ZEOs working in Incharge capacity.
USTA also demanded construction of additional classrooms, proper seating arrangement for students, internet connectivity to each school, safe drinking water and providing of funds for toilet and premises cleaning.
Association opined that successful implementation of National Education Policy-2020 without considering infrastructural and faculty facilities was not possible. Other issues highlighted in the conference include filling up of vacant posts of teachers, substantial investment in education sector, utilisation of services of valley teachers in safer parts and sanctioning of senior teacher scale in favour of undergraduate teachers.
Later in the conference, district committee of J&K USTA was elected with Vinayak Sharma as District President, Vijay Kumar as Senior Vice President, Anjali Sharma as Vice President, Abdul Rashid as Secretary and Parbhat Singh as Treasurer.
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