JAMMU, Nov 11: A high-level delegation of the Jammu Kashmir Teachers Forum (JKTF) called on Education Minister Shamima Firdous at the Civil Secretariat, Jammu, and submitted a charter of demands highlighting key issues concerning the teaching fraternity across the Union Territory.
The delegation was jointly led by Senior Vice Chairman J.A. Agah, UT President Bharat Bhushan Sharma and Provincial President Kuldeep Singh Bandral. The representatives welcomed the Minister and presented her with a bouquet on behalf of the teaching community.
During the meeting, the JKTF leadership apprised the Minister of various administrative bottlenecks and academic concerns affecting teachers and the functioning of government schools. The delegation expressed hope that her leadership would help bring positive policy interventions and ensure timely action on issues related to teachers’ welfare and school education.
Shamima Firdous gave a patient hearing to the delegation and appreciated the important role played by teachers in nation-building. She assured the representatives that their genuine grievances would be examined and taken up with the concerned authorities for early and time-bound resolution.
After the meeting at the Civil Secretariat, the delegation visited the Directorate of School Education Jammu (DSEJ), where it met Director School Education Jammu Dr. Naseem Javaid and Personnel Officer Manisha Angral.
During the interaction, the JKTF representatives raised several long-pending service-related demands, particularly the need to expedite Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) meetings for the promotion of Teachers to Masters and clear pending promotions of Masters to Headmasters and Lecturers.
The delegation also sought the immediate filling of vacant administrative positions, including Headmasters, Principals and other non-teaching posts in government schools, to improve the overall functioning of educational institutions.
The forum emphasised that students remain its foremost priority and assured the Director that it would continue to work towards safeguarding academic interests while pursuing the legitimate service-related demands of teachers.
Dr. Naseem Javaid took note of the issues raised and assured the delegation that departmental proceedings concerning promotions and cadre vacancies would be pursued on priority.
The JKTF leadership reiterated its commitment to constructive engagement with the Education Department and stressed the need for timely decisions to strengthen the education system and ensure career progression for teachers across Jammu and Kashmir.
Those who accompanied the delegation included Rashpaul Choudhary, District President Kathua; S. Gurmeet Singh, Subash Sharma, Rakesh Singh, Mohinder Singh, Ramandeep Sharma, Bishan Lal, Deepak Sharma, Sanjeev Kumar, Gulshan Sharma, Subash Chander, Kulvinder Sharma, Abid Hussain Zargar, Anees Ahmad Wani, Ch. Mohd. Iqbal and others.