Jammu: A delegation of the Jammu and Kashmir General Line Teachers Forum (JKGLTF) met with the Minister for Education, Sakina Masood, at the Civil Secretariat in Jammu on Wednesday.
During the meeting, the members congratulated the minister on the recent decision to change the academic session, stating that the move would greatly benefit students across the Union Territory.
The delegation submitted a detailed memorandum of demands and discussed each point extensively with the minister. Among their primary concerns was the restoration of the old pension scheme, which they argued is crucial for ensuring financial security for retired teaching staff.
They also highlighted the urgent need for promotions to address career stagnation, allowing teachers to be elevated to masters and masters to lecturers.
Another critical issue raised was the lack of administrative appointments in schools, with the delegation emphasizing the need to fill vacant positions of headmasters and principals to ensure smooth operations. They further sought confirmation of appointments for headmasters, ZEOs, lecturers, principals, and CEOs, stressing the importance of finalizing these roles to maintain administrative efficiency.
The forum called for the effective implementation of the Annual Transfer Drive (ATD) to facilitate equitable transfers and enable teachers to return from hard zones. They also underscored the need for infrastructure upgradation in schools, suggesting the integration of advanced technologies to improve learning outcomes.
Additionally, the delegation urged the minister to release pending increments for teachers and lecturers under SRO 202 and advocated for the introduction of new subjects at the 10+2 level, along with the creation of teaching posts to support the curriculum expansion. They also sought the restoration of senior designations, such as senior teacher and senior master, and appealed for an increase in salaries for vocational teachers, as well as enhanced honorariums for cook-cum-helper staff and Ayas.
The delegation proposed the creation of a dedicated teacher welfare fund to support educators and stressed the need for rationalizing teacher placements in alignment with the Class-Teacher Ratio (CTR). They also demanded the establishment of a separate cadre for general line teachers, distinct from scheme-based educators, to address unique challenges faced by the group.
Minister Sakina Masood listened attentively to the concerns raised by the delegation. She assured them that their demands would be prioritized and addressed systematically, reaffirming the government’s commitment to improving the education system and supporting teachers in the Union Territory.
