Srinagar, Sept 5: While Teachers’ Day began with greetings and celebrations across the country on Friday, in Kashmir the day started on a note of dejection and disappointment as a group of aggrieved teachers hit the streets to protest against what they termed “humiliation and disgrace” at the hands of the School Education Department (SED).
Early morning on Friday, dozens of teachers from different areas assembled outside the residence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar and staged a demonstration against the last-minute decision of the Education Department to slash the list of nominees for the prestigious Best Teacher award.
The protesting teachers said the department had, ten days ago, issued a formal order and announced that at least four teachers from each district would be felicitated on Teachers’ Day.
As per the protesting teachers, one male, one female, one language teacher, and one teacher for Children With Special Needs (CWSN) from each district was to be felicitated today.
“Based on this criteria, names of teachers across categories were finalized and publicised. Till yesterday (September 4), our names figured in the awardees’ list. Our families and localities celebrated this recognition,” the teachers told Greater Kashmir.
They however said that the department arbitrarily reduced the list by 50 percent without citing any reason.
The teachers alleged that the sudden exclusion amounted to an insult. “It came as a shock when we saw our names dropped from the list. This is not about a cash prize; it is about our dignity. The department should never have issued the list if it intended to alter it at the last moment,” the teachers said.
Several teachers, who had left their homes early Friday morning for the felicitation ceremony scheduled at SKICC Srinagar, instead landed at the residence of CM Omar Abdullah and demanded answers over what they called “administrative highhandedness.”
On Thursday, President of All Teachers Association Jammu and Kashmir, Mrignayani Slathia wrote to Director School Education Jammu (DSEJ) over the selection of the teachers for State Award.
“The recent nominations for the Best Teacher Award have caused serious concern and dissatisfaction among committed classroom educators,” reads the letter addressed to DSEJ.
The forum president alleged that several teachers selected for this prestigious award have mostly remained attached to office or administrative duties, having spent only minimal time in active teaching within classrooms.
“Many selected teachers have spent significant portions of their careers attached to non-teaching administrative posts instead of regular classroom assignments, which contradicts the principle that this award is meant for exceptional classroom performers,” the letter reads.
It reads that these teachers have not demonstrated regular or substantial direct classroom teaching, thus raising questions about the appropriateness of their selection.
“There is little or no evidence available of their having prepared Teaching Learning Materials (TLM) or maintained lesson plan diaries, both of which are critical for effective student engagement and educational outcomes,” the letter reads.
Forum president said that absence of these teachers , selected for award, from classroom practice has resulted in a lack of pedagogical innovation, lesson documentation, and evidence-based teaching outcomes, which undermines the spirit of the Best Teacher Award.
“The current nominations and selection procedures be reviewed, with genuine classroom achievements and transparent documentation given top priority to restore the value of the Best Teacher Award,” the representation reads.
