Education Department must scrutinise unauthorised degrees, not penalise sincere teachers
Rahi Firdous
The School Education Department recently issued Circular No. 06-JK (Edu) of 2026, dated 7 July 2026, regarding the fixation of seniority for the purposes of promotion. This circular has been issued to streamline seniority and promotion cases in each discipline. A one-time option has been given to those PG Masters and teachers who hold multiple PG degrees. In simple terms, it means a one-time option for teachers with multiple postgraduate qualifications.
When we talk about the fixation of seniority in different subjects by adopting a systematic and positive approach in order to streamline the seniority lists, it is a good step. However, on the other side, the department has given a one-time option for multiple PG degree holders to choose only one PG degree for the purposes of future promotion. What about those teachers who had sought prior permission and sanctioned leaves from the concerned DDOs and departmental recommendations under Government Order No. 188-JK(Edu) of 2024, dated 15 March 2024? Enhancement of qualification is an appreciable effort made by these multiple PG degree holders through hard work, dedication, zeal, passion, and sincerity.
Fixation of seniority in a planned and rational manner for promotion purposes is a highly appreciable step. This will definitely bring transparency and efficiency to the education system. The School Education Department must scrutinise the PG degrees of those teachers who have gained their qualifications from unrecognised universities and those who have pursued their PG degrees without prior permission, without sanctioned leaves, and without departmental recommendations. For this purpose, a proper mechanism should be evolved to check the validity of PG degrees in order to streamline the seniority lists.
The department should issue clear-cut directions to both Directors of the School Education Department, Jammu and Kashmir, to identify those teachers who have done their PG degrees without seeking proper permission from the competent authority and submit the report for onward submission to the School Education Department. Through this exercise, all seniority lists of different subjects will automatically be streamlined, and teachers who have done their PG degrees—even multiple PG degree holders—may not suffer.
In the Higher Education Department, the enhancement of qualification is an acceptable practice under the rules and is highly appreciated. An Assistant Professor in the Higher Education Department with a PhD degree earns three increments. In the School Education Department, from time to time, highly qualified and multiple degree holders have been encouraged and honoured for their great contributions in academic fields. The School Education Department should think it over and reconsider the multiple PG degree cases of those eligible teachers who have done their multiple PG degrees genuinely and with proper permission and sanctioned leaves.
The writer is a teacher at the School Education Department, J&K
fi**********@***il.com