In recent times there is a row between the School Education Department (SED) and teachers over the distance degrees particularly in Science subjects despite guidelines issued by the administrative department from time to time. There are a big lot of in-service teachers and masters in SED who have completed their Masters in subjects like Zoology, Botany, Physics, Computer Science Environmental Science and all subjects of Social Sciences through distance mode. Different universities in the country like IGNOU, MANUU, etc are running these programmes, recognised by the UGC and Distance Education Council (DEC).
Out of the whole country, when these degrees reach the UT of J&K, a question mark is always raised over their validity, thus resulting in chaos and confrontation between regular and distance mode, incumbent teachers versus SED, etc. Petitions over petitions are being filed to win the game. For the last two decades, the government issued guidelines from time to time to settle down the matter. Despite following all these guidelines by the incumbents, even then 72 lectures of Environmental Science were reverted to their substantive posts. Among them, a group of 23 lecturers has been promoted on the directions of the High Court of J& K. Here a question arises if any institution and courses offered are duly recognised by the apex bodies like UGC and DEC, then why to consult this and that university for their nod, which is not their prerogative.
Let’s take another side of the story. At the time of entry into the department as a General Line teacher or RET, one is bound to teach all subjects at elementary, middle and secondary levels. For example, a teacher, M. Phil in Chemistry, has to teach Kashmiri and Urdu and vice versa. On the basis of seniority, the department gives promotions to the next higher level i.e. gazetted rank. Most of teachers and masters reach this stage not less than 20 years of their service when they are at the verge of superannuation. Keeping in mind their previous services and experiences, they are totally out of the loop with their speciality. From ground zero, it has been observed that they couldn’t do justice with the just cause. At this juncture, they rely on notes that too a readymade.
In the recent past, the government took some new initiatives which received applause from different sections of society. Departmental examinations were taken for Junior Assistants to get to the next higher level like Senior Assistant, and Senior Assistant to the next level. Revenue and Finance departments had already gone through the process for Patwaries and Accounts Assistants respectively.
The intelligentsia asks if Junior Assistants and Patwaries, why not the cream of society – the nation builders – teachers to become gazetted officers. By this, the decades-old issue will get resolved, and the headache of distance and regular will be over once and for all.
Those with potential will come forward and prove their mettle. It will be for the larger benefit of the Education Department, especially the student community. The super cream will come out and it will serve.
The damage caused to the social status of the reverted lectures cannot be justified. They deserve honour.