School Education Department (SED) proposes post of Vice-Principal, B.Ed for Lecturer & exam for promotion
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Oct 7: The School Education Department in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory has proposed some significant changes in its Gazetted Service Recruitment Rules, which have been deemed necessary as per the demand of the time and new National Education Police (NEP) 2020.
The Department has proposed introduction of the post of Vice-Principal besides adding B Ed Degree to the existing qualification of PG only for the post of Lecturer.
Besides, a limited Departmental Examination by Jammu Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) has been proposed for the promotion purpose, in addition to the B Ed Degree.
Further, the Department has also proposed to keep an alternative of at least six percent of Lecturers as a temporary replacement for those put on deputation, training and leave purposes.
While notifying the Draft Jammu and Kashmir School Education (Gazetted) Service Recruitment Rules-2023, vide Circular No.05-JK(Edu) of 2023, dated 27-09-2023, the Department has invited suggestions and objections from all the stakeholders within 15 days.
However, non-seriousness in taking the stakeholders on board can be gauged from the fact that the draft notification of the proposed Rules has not yet been uploaded on official websites of the School Education Department even as only two days are left for submission of the objections and suggestions.
As per the notified draft, B Ed Degree has been added to the existing qualification of Post Graduation only as per NCET guidelines for the post of Lecturer while for the promotion purposes, in addition to B Ed Degree, a limited Departmental examination has been proposed to be conducted by JKPSC. The Jammu and Kashmir State Council of Educational Research and Training (JKSCERT) will set the syllabus for the departmental examination.
The Department has also proposed that for fixing the seniority of candidate, date of passing higher qualification required for acquiring full eligibility for promotion shall be taken as of date of inclusion in seniority in addition to the date of appointment.
Further, the department has proposed introduction of the post of Vice-Principal, equivalent to the number of the Principals (Higher Secondary School) from the existing strength of Senior Lecturers without any financial implications.
However, a decrease in the percentage of Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) for promotion as Principals from existing 20 percent to 5 percent has been proposed keeping in view their cadre strength.
The Department has also proposed to keep an alternative of at least six percent of Lecturers as a temporary replacement for those put on deputation, training and leave purposes. As per the draft, the department has proposed to reserve two percent of Lecturers (206) for deputation purposes, two percent for training purposes (206), and two percent (206) for leave purposes.
Therefore, total 616 Lecturers will be kept reserved for temporary replacement purpose to avoid any sort of deficiencies in the department. Earlier there were only 6,255 Lecturers in Jammu and Kashmir and in 2019, the department increased the teaching strength to 10,330.
Pertinent to mention that the issue of updation of Jammu and Kashmir School Education (Gazetted) Service Recruitment Rules 2010 was discussed in the committee constituted for the same vide Government order number 1359-jk (GAD) of 2022, dated 15-11-2022. In last meeting of the committee, held on June 28, 2023, chaired by Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary, School Education Department, the issue was discussed threadbare and suggestions from the members were taken into consideration after which the draft rules and proposed changes were notified.
Meanwhile, in response to proposed changes in class-III category (G) ZEO/Sr Head Master and Class-IV category-(A) HM/ZEPO of schedule-II, some Headmasters, ZEOs and ZEPOs, who approached the Excelsior, conveyed their concern over some proposals and confusions in the draft. As per schedule-I of Annexure A, the pay scale of ZEO/Sr HM mentioned at S.no.19 has been shown as 52700-166700 but in Schedule-II class-III category(G) the pay scale has been reduced to 50700-160600. Further, as per schedule-I of annexure A, the pay scale of Headmasters/ZEPOs mentioned at serial number 20 has been shown as 50700-160600 but in schedule-II class-IV (category A) the HM/ZEPO have been placed in the lower grade of 47600-151100 instead of pay scale 50700-160600. Moreover in page 2 of the said circular, ZEPOs (S.No.18) have been placed in the pay scale of 50700-160600 whereas the Headmasters mentioned at S.No.17 have been placed in the pay scale of 47600-151100. They have also expressed their reservations over lowering the promotion prospects of Sr HM/ZEO to the post of Principal from existing 20 percent to 5 percent
