Despite years of wait undergraduate SSA teachers facing dark future
Srinagar: The state government seems to have shelved the process for regularisation of undergraduate SSA teachers. This is despite the government order issued in December last year.
The teachers accused the state administration of delaying the regularisation despite clear directions from government to clear all the cases within three months from the time when the State Administrative council (SAC) announced the decision for absorption of erstwhile SSA teachers as Grade II teachers.
On December 25 last, the government extended the tenure of the committee by one month entrusting it to examine the issue of undergraduate teachers for regularisation in the department.
The same had earlier given recommendation to regularise SSA teachers possessing graduation as their minimum qualification.
“The committee was supposed to complete the process by one month, but the government is indecisive over it despite the passage of over six months,” said Shaqeel Ahmad, an undergraduate SSA teacher.
As per official figures, more than 7000 undergraduate teachers have been left out by the governor administration after it issued formal orders for regularisation of graduate SSA teachers, identification of permanent RMSA masters and head-teachers.
“There is no word from the education department regarding the status of our files. It seems they have shelved the process,” he said.
The teachers questioned the government’s lethargic approach in dealing with this issue saying that there was no justification in denying them the benefits given to the graduate teachers.
These teachers have been serving in schools from past 15 years. They have rendered their services during elections, have worked as BLOs as well, said another teacher.
“But now the government has failed to pursue our cases despite utilizing our services,” said Bilal Ahmad, another teacher.
In 2018, the SAC accorded sanction to creation of teacher grade-II cadre with effect from September 2018 in the school education department for filling these posts by regularized Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers with a graduate degree from a recognized university.
“A huge chunk of under-graduate teachers have crossed the age bar of 50 and now the government wants us to first complete three years graduation to become eligible for our regularization,” said Ishtiyaq Ahmad, another teacher.
Secretary school education department, Sarita Chauhan said the committee has convened two meetings to settle the cases of under graduate teachers.
“The report is likely to be submitted to the finance commissioner. We are seriously at it,” she said.
