01 June 2018: I was talking to an officer in the education department yesterday and asked him why there's a shortage of staff in the upper areas of pahalgam . He said one there's a shortage of staff and secondly, a number of teachers do not return to the far flung areas even afrer the attachment period ends using local political influence. Teachers who are ordered to go to these areas also resist such postings with the help of political influence. He also said that such problems dont exist in areas like Ananthnag and other areas of district ananthnag where teachers are more and students lesser. Sadly the Education department does not pay attention to upper areas like pahalgam aru, mandlana, mamal, ganieshbal, frislan, athnadan, laripora kalan laripora khurad, gujran batkoot, serchen, kicherwan, grendwan hapatnar, reshikulbal, nagbal, khilan, lehandajan, shikhpora, etc where there's a severe shortage of staff. A number of RET and other teachers also don't go these schools at all despite drawing pay from the school depriving poor children going to these schools of education. We appeal local politicians not to interfere in these matters and stop putting the question of their education under duress. They should instead think these are their own children and try to do whatever they can to ensure there's no shortage of staff in schools in far flung areas. The Director Education Kashmir, CEO Education Ananthnag and concerned ZEOs must also ensure posting of additional staff in the 3 education zones of Mattan, Aishmuqam and Srugufwara.
Mushtaq Pahalgami,
Himalayan Welfare Organization-HWO
