KISHTWAR , Aug 21: The Jammu Kashmir Teacher Forum has welcomed the revised school zonation carried out by the Directorate of School Education, Jammu, describing the newly defined Hard and Soft Zones as more appropriate, practical and rational.
JKTF President Rajesh Parihar said the earlier zonation adopted by the Education Department had several shortcomings and did not adequately reflect the actual ground realities, difficult terrain and challenges faced by teachers serving in different areas.
He appreciated the initiative taken by the Directorate of School Education, Jammu, along with the concerned Deputy School Education authorities and Chief Education Officers, for reviewing the earlier classification and undertaking the zonation exercise afresh.
Parihar said the newly created zones have been classified in a more systematic, justified and realistic manner, adding that rational zonation was a long-standing requirement of the teaching community.
“The revised zonation is a welcome step. The new zones have been created in a much more appropriate manner and are reflective of the actual requirements and ground realities. We appreciate the efforts of the Education Department in undertaking this exercise afresh,” Rajesh Parihar said.
He expressed hope that the revised zonation would bring greater fairness and transparency to matters concerning teacher postings, transfers and other service-related issues.
Parihar further hoped that in the current Annual Transfer Drive, teachers who have served in far-flung and difficult areas for several years, particularly those nearing retirement, would be given a fair opportunity to return to their home areas through suitable postings.
The Forum also urged the authorities to take into consideration teachers who have been working in the same school for prolonged periods on attachment, deployment or due to pending court cases. Their total length of stay in the concerned school, the Forum said, should be clearly reflected and appropriately considered while processing transfers.
The JKTF District Kishtwar President also appealed to the higher authorities to expedite the resolution of all pending court cases, preferably before the commencement of the Annual Transfer Drive, so that the transfer process can be conducted in a fair, transparent and equitable manner.
The Forum maintained that a transparent transfer mechanism, coupled with rational school zonation, would go a long way in addressing the genuine concerns of teachers and ensuring a more balanced distribution of teaching staff across schools.