Edu deptt putting our career at stake, allege contractual lecturers, teachers
Shopian: The contractual lecturers and teachers here have expressed resentment against the education department, accusing the department of playing with their career by extending their contracts for only one or two months.
Lecturers, teachers who were appointed in government institutions on contractual basis for academic session 2018 in February 2018 told ‘Kashmir Vision’ that the department must recruit them permanently as there are vacancies in the department else stop extending their contract for a month or two.
About 1600 contractual lecturers and teachers were appointed by the department for academic session 2018 purely on contract basis on basis of academic points as well on written examination.
However, their contract was extended by two months for winter schooling during winter vacation in season 2018-19, starting from 16th Nov 2018 to 15th January 2019 and as per order the contract expired on 15th January.
Contractual lecturers and teachers told this reporter that the department is about to extend their contract by one month for which official orders will be released within two days.
“Government must recognize our work and instead of extending our contract by month or two, should be recruited permanently as the contractual lecturers and teachers have rendered their services to the department even in those areas where permanent lecturers fail to go or avoid joining their duties,” they said.
“Our qualification is higher than the permanent teachers, also there is vacancy in the department so why can’t the department permanently appoint us,” said a contractual teacher, adding that no permanent teacher is presently performing their duties.
However, they said that they are teaching hundreds of students of government as well as private schools at various institutions, adding that “we want justice in this regard and government must appoint us permanently or stop rubbing our wounds by extending contract by month or two.”
“Our files are lying before Advisor to the Governor Khurshid Ahmed Ganaie and we requested him to take cognizance of our issues immediately,” they added.
A senior official of Education Department said that contractual vacancies are not a permanent job and their engagement was based on academic arrangement under which the department hired teachers and lecturers for a few months during an academic session.
“The posts of lecturers are gazetted in nature and can be filled only through the PSC,” he said, adding that only those who are 100 per cent fit for the job and clear the PSC and SSB examinations will be appointed in general recruitments.
Chief Education Officer (CEO) Shopian, Sadiq Ah Khan told ‘Kashmir Vision’ that their appointment is purely part time.
“We have not received any communication regarding extending their contract or something else,” he said, adding that “we have already directed our permanent staff to join their duties and start teaching students at winter centres so that students may not get affected.”
Jahangeer Ganaie
