JAMMU, Jul 7: The J&K +2 Lecturers’ Forum on Tuesday welcomed the School Education Department’s initiative to elevate Senior Lecturers as Principals while reiterating that the regularisation of In-charge Lecturers and implementation of Assured Career Progression (ACP) remain the most pressing issues of the lecturer fraternity.
The decisions and demands were discussed during a meeting of the Forum held under the chairmanship of R.S. Salathia. The meeting was presided over by Pardeep Koul, Provincial President, Jammu Division, and attended by senior office bearers, including B.K. Tickoo (Vice President), Ghar Singh (General Secretary), Pardeep Singh Rakwal (Chief Advisor), R.K. Padroo (Chief Organizer), Ghulam Nabi Malik (Legal Advisor), Renu Lengeh (Vice President), Rajiv Sharma, and several other members.
Addressing the gathering, Forum Chairman R.S. Salathia urged the Commissioner/Secretary, School Education Department, to expedite the long-pending regularisation of In-charge Lecturers. He also called for an early decision on the implementation of ACP, describing both issues as the top priorities of the lecturer community. Salathia said that resolving these long-pending demands would significantly boost the morale of lecturers and contribute to strengthening the education system in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking on the occasion, Pardeep Koul expressed gratitude to Education Minister Sakina Masood Itoo, Commissioner/Secretary, School Education Department, Ram Niwas Sharma, and Special Secretary, School Education Department, Gh. Rasool Mir for initiating the process of elevating Senior Lecturers as Principals. He said the move fulfils a long-standing demand of the Forum and would help address the shortage of Principals in Higher Secondary Schools while improving institutional leadership.
Koul also urged the Government to fill all vacant posts of Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) and Headmasters on a priority basis, stating that the vacancies are affecting academic administration and the effective implementation of educational policies at the grassroots level. He expressed confidence that the Government would take positive steps in the larger interest of students and the teaching fraternity.
The Forum unanimously demanded the immediate implementation of transfers under the Annual Transfer Drive (ATD) and sought early finalisation and notification of the Gazetted Services Recruitment Rules, saying delays in both matters were creating administrative hurdles and affecting career progression.
The meeting concluded with members unanimously appealing to the School Education Department to take expeditious action on all pending issues concerning the lecturer cadre. The views expressed by Salathia and Koul were endorsed by Ghar Singh, B.K. Tickoo, Renu Lengeh, Ghulam Nabi Malik, Rajiv Sharma and other members, who reaffirmed the Forum’s commitment to protecting the interests of lecturers while contributing to the overall improvement of the education system in Jammu and Kashmir.