Situation in education department turns chaotic as key positions left vacant
Srinagar: The School Education Department in Kashmir has been left on crutches as two dozen posts of zonal education officers (ZEOs) in Kashmir region have been left vacant. The unfilled posts have exposed the non-seriousness of the department in filling the key positions which play an important role at the ground level in the department.
As per the official documents, around 27 education zones are headless and the department has assigned the additional charge to the higher secondary principals, ZEOs and deputy chief education officers to manage these crucial posts.
The additional charges have been given to the other officers at a time when the department is claiming to do away with the additional charge syndrome to improve the delivery system at the grass root level.
Besides, two district institutes of education and training (DIETs)- one each in Baramulla and Ganderbal have been also left headless by the department which are managed by other officers apart from their own duties and responsibilities.
The additional charge syndrome is likely to have adverse impact on the academics in schools as most of the higher secondary school principals have been given additional assignment in addition to their own duties, said a senior official of the department.
Meanwhile, another official said the post of CEO is lying vacant in Anantnag, Srinagar, Ganderbal, Kulgam, Kargil and Leh districts.
“The charges of these posts have been assigned to the officials as their additional assignment. The post of CEO is managed by DIET Principal whereas the post of DIET principal is managed by CEO at many places,” the official said.
He said in some districts, both the post of CEO and DIET principal are lying vacant and the charges are given to deputy chief education officer of the district.
Ganderbal district has been the worst victim of the flawed administration of the department wherein all the four zones are without ZEOs while as the post of DIET Principal and CEO is also vacant as well.
An official said the department had posted one ZEO for Ganderbaal zone who was recently attached to the office of deputy commissioner Ganderbal during the civic body elections.
Secretary school education deportment Ajit Kumar Sahu when contacted evaded questions and said the department will take care of the matter.
“We will try to relieve officers from additional charges,” he said.
KV Correspondent
