Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Sep 21: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has said that it is contemplating upgrading selected High Schools in the Zainapora Assembly constituency to Higher Secondary Schools, particularly those located in rural and far-flung areas with limited access to Senior Secondary education.
The government stated this in response to an unstarred question raised by Zainapora MLA Showkat Hussain Ganie regarding the proposed upgradation of schools in the constituency and the availability of teaching and non-teaching staff.
According to the reply accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the School Education Department is considering formulating a proposal for upgradation of High Schools having classes from 1st to 10th standard to Higher Secondary Schools (K-12), keeping in view the limited access to Senior Secondary education.
The government, however, clarified that there is currently no immediate proposal to upgrade Primary Schools to Middle Schools or Middle Schools to High Schools. It said that all demands, including those pertaining to Zainapora constituency, would be examined and considered in a phased manner, subject to availability of budgetary provisions and other prescribed norms.
On the issue of staff shortage, the government said the Directorate of School Education, Kashmir, has reported that adequate teaching and non-teaching staff is available in the constituency as per the prescribed Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR). The PTR has been reported at 1:9 at Primary level, 1:10 at Middle School level, 1:12 at High School level, and 1:18 at Higher Secondary School level.
It said that 594 Lecturer posts in 27 disciplines under the direct recruitment quota have been referred to the J&K Public Service Commission for selection. So far, the department has received 586 selections from the PSC, while appointment orders for 322 candidates have been issued after verification of their character and antecedents by the CID. The vacant posts in Higher Secondary Schools are being filled accordingly, the government said.
To address staff shortages in High Schools, the department has also engaged Cluster Resource Coordinators (CRCs) during the current year to teach specific subjects. Their engagement is temporary and on a yearly basis under Samagra Shiksha, with the process being carried out by the respective Directors. The department is also undertaking rationalisation and deployment of available teaching and non-teaching staff to schools facing shortages until vacant posts are filled on a permanent basis through recruitment agencies or Departmental Promotion Committees (DPCs).
On school infrastructure, the government said classrooms are available in all schools in the Zainapora constituency, while libraries are available in 113 schools and laboratories in 14 schools. Drinking water and toilet facilities are available in all schools, it said. At the same time, the government acknowledged that deficiencies and shortages in various infrastructure facilities have been identified and said these are being addressed through different plans aimed at upgrading and strengthening school infrastructure in the constituency.
The government maintained that the proposed upgradation of schools would be considered in accordance with educational requirements, available resources, and applicable norms—(KNO)
