JAMMU, Aug 21: The Jammu & Kashmir Teachers Forum (JKTF) has urged the Government and the School Education Department to immediately finalize and implement a separate, transparent and time-bound transfer policy for Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers across Jammu and Kashmir.
While welcoming the Annual Transfer Drive (ATD) for General Line Teachers, the Forum expressed serious concern over the continued delay in framing a dedicated transfer mechanism for ReT teachers, despite the issue having remained pending for a considerable period.
JKTF State President and EJAC Provincial President (Jammu), Mohd Ashraf Sheikh, said that a large number of ReT teachers have been serving for several years in remote, far-flung and hard areas under challenging geographical and personal circumstances.
“ReT teachers have played a vital role in strengthening primary education and ensuring the functioning of schools in remote areas. While the transfer drive is being conducted for other categories, the long-pending issue of a separate transfer policy for ReT teachers needs immediate attention,” he said.
He appealed the Hon’ble Minister for Education, Sakina Itoo, and the Secretary, School Education Department, to personally intervene and ensure that a comprehensive, fair and transparent transfer policy is finalized without further delay.
The Forum said the proposed policy should take into consideration the length of service, postings in hard and remote areas, long-distance commuting and other genuine hardship cases, while keeping administrative requirements and the academic interests of students in view.
JKTF further emphasized that a clearly defined transfer mechanism would provide much-needed relief to thousands of ReT teachers, improve their morale and professional efficiency, and assist the Department in rationalizing teacher deployment in a fair and transparent manner. The Forum reiterated that ReT teachers have rendered significant service under difficult conditions and their long-standing contribution deserves due recognition through a humane and equitable transfer policy. It expressed hope that the School Education Department would take immediate and concrete steps towards finalizing the policy and providing long-awaited relief to the ReT teaching community.