Srinagar, Mar 15: The new academic session this year again begun under the shadow of an old and persistent crisis—acute shortage of teaching staff in government schools, particularly in rural and far-flung areas.

Routine class work in secondary and higher secondary schools resumed in February last week after the winter break, while elementary-level classes started on March 9. However, instead of a smooth start to the academic year, several institutions are grappling with a severe deficiency of teachers, raising concerns about academic disruption.

Officials said most schools in rural areas continue to face a teacher shortage, while higher secondary schools—particularly in north Kashmir—are struggling with an acute dearth of lecturers and subject specific teachers. For the past few years, the department managed the situation by deputing subject-specific teachers from middle and primary schools to higher secondary schools as an academic arrangement. However, the arrangement was discontinued last year after the Joint Director of the School Education Department (SED) for north Kashmir ordered the repatriation of all such teachers to their original places of posting. The order, implemented only in north Kashmir districts, has aggravated the crisis in higher secondary schools since the resumption of classes after the winter vacation, this year. “The order issued by the Joint Director was initially resisted, but the principals of higher secondary schools were eventually forced to relieve these teachers to their original places of posting. Now the same institutions face a serious shortage of lecturers,” a senior official told Greater Kashmir. According to officials, the crisis is largely seen in higher secondary schools of north Kashmir districts while schools in other districts are witnessing a relatively smooth session. “The decision was implemented because several subject-specific teachers originally posted in nearby primary or middle schools had been deployed to higher secondary schools located far away. Many of them sought to return to their original postings,” the official said.

Despite the start of the new academic session, the School Education Department did not carry out any reshuffle of teaching staff. The exercise was usually done during the winter vacation to balance manpower across schools. Apart from higher secondary institutions, many rural schools also face a shortage of teachers, further straining the academic process. The issue was earlier raised in the Assembly by the MLA from Uri constituency who highlighted the acute staff shortage in schools across his constituency. He urged the department to ensure that teachers posted in the Uri area continue to serve there even after promotions. He argued that teachers from outside areas rarely opt for postings in remote regions like Uri. However, according to official data, more than 50 teachers originally from Uri are currently posted in Baramulla town and its adjoining areas. “We prepared a list of these teachers and submitted it to the MLA, which was later forwarded to the directorate as well. But nothing has been done so far,” an official said.

Earlier this year the issue of teacher deployment also triggered controversy in Bandipora district. The Chief Education Officer (CEO) Bandipora cancelled the deployment of teachers from Gurez who had been working in schools in Bandipora town and other areas. However, the CEO was suspended a day after he issued the order to cancel all deployments. Officials in school education department informally linked the suspension to the cancellation of the deployment orders. The government, however, remained tight-lipped over the reasons behind the action. As already reported, the Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) earlier issued an academic planner and said that 2026 will year of academic excellence. But on the ground, the department has failed overcome the crisis owing to the teacher deficiency in schools.

Srinagar, Mar 15: A four-member delegation of the ruling National Conference MLAs called on Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha here on Sunday to seek withdrawal of cases against youths arrested during the recent protests in the Valley over the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The delegation comprised MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq, MLA Chadoora Ali Mohammad Dar, MLA Pattan Javaid Riyaz Bedar, and MLA Sonawari Hilal Akbar Lone.

Speaking to reporters after meeting the L-G, Sadiq told reporters that the delegation raised the issue of the arrest of youth and registration of cases against them.

“When our leader Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei was martyred, spontaneous protests took place on the streets. In view of that, several FIRs were filed at different police stations, whether in the Chadoora area, Patan, Budgam, Sonawari or in the Zaidibal area,” he said.

Sadiq, who is also the chief spokesperson of the NC, said youths were expressing their anger and grief through the protest, which resulted in registration of FIRs against many of them.

“So, we met his excellency, the LG, and requested him that all such FIRs be withdrawn because they were youngsters and only wanted to express their grief,” he added.

The NC MLA said the delegation is grateful to the LG for listening to it very patiently and assuring it that he would review the matter.

“He assured us that he will review the cases of those youngsters who are currently in jail or have FIRs registered against them and take some action,” Zadibal added.

Srinagar, Mar 15: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association on Sunday said that the first batch of more than 70 Indian students; the majority of them from Jammu and Kashmir along with several pilgrims who had been stranded in Iran amid the ongoing war-like situation in the region, safely arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi on a commercial flight this morning as part of the initial phase of the evacuation process.

In a statement, National Convenor of the Association Nasir Khuehami said that the students returned to India via a connecting journey through Armenia and Dubai after undertaking a long and difficult land and air transit arranged in coordination with the concerned authorities.

He said the students travelled from different cities in Iran by buses and crossed into Armenia, from where they boarded a Flydubai flight from Zvartnots International Airport in Yerevan to Dubai. From Dubai, the passengers boarded another connecting Flydubai flight that landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport at around 9:45 AM on Sunday.

Khuehami said the majority of the returning students had been studying at various universities across Iran, including Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, and other universities across the country. Many of them had earlier been relocated to safer locations by the Indian Embassy in Tehran amid the deteriorating security situation.

He said the evacuation was made possible following coordinated efforts between the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions in Tehran and Yerevan, and other concerned authorities after the matter was taken up with senior officials.

He added that the students in this batch returned to India on commercial flights, as part of an initial evacuation arrangement facilitated through diplomatic coordination and the support of Indian missions.

The Association expressed gratitude to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Tehran for facilitating the safe evacuation and ensuring the students’ return to India during a challenging situation.

Khuehami said that, “This development has brought much-needed relief to students and families across Kashmir who had been deeply worried about the safety of their children in the conflict-affected region.

Khuehami further said that there is an urgent need for the government to launch a full-fledged evacuation operation, similar to the large-scale evacuation carried out during the Ukraine crisis and the evacuation undertaken during last year’s 12-day war-like situation in Iran, to ensure the safe and timely return of all Indian students still stranded in different parts of the country.

He also added that AC sleeper buses were arranged by the Jammu and Kashmir Government for the students’ onward journey after their arrival in Delhi. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister made the necessary arrangements to ensure their smooth return to their homes.

The sleeper buses were deployed to facilitate the safe and comfortable transportation of the students and pilgrims back to Jammu and Kashmir. The sleeper coaches were stationed in the parking area on the left side of the exit gate at Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, to assist the arriving students, he said.

These arrangements were put in place to ensure a seamless transition for the returnees after their long and difficult journey from Iran via Armenia and Dubai.

Khuehami, however, added that many students were exhausted due to continuous travel over the past several days, having undertaken long road and air journeys before finally reaching India. He said while some students opted to board the arranged buses for their onward journey to Jammu and Kashmir, while others directly booked connecting flights to Srinagar due to fatigue and the long duration of travel. (KNC)

Jammu, Mar 15: Jammu and Kashmir has completed more than 3 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin, achieving 97 per cent of the target, officials said on Sunday.

Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department Secretary Mohammad Aijaz Asad directed officials to accelerate the pace of work for the remaining 11,340 houses under the scheme.

During a meeting to review the progress of PMAY-G in the Union Territory, he said the current phase of the scheme is nearing completion, and all works sanctioned under the existing phase must be completed without delay before the new phase begins.

The meeting was informed that a total of 3,23,299 houses have been completed, while work is in progress on the remaining 11,340 houses.

Asad directed assistant commissioners of development (ACDs) and block development officers (BDOs) to track each case and ensure that no sanctioned house remains incomplete.

He also instructed that any technical or administrative bottlenecks hindering progress be resolved immediately.

The secretary said that all pending works must be completed by April 15, stressing that officers should make every possible effort, even if it requires working around the clock, as houses left incomplete under the previous phase will not be taken up once the new phase begins.

He also directed the directors of rural development of the Jammu and Kashmir region to hold weekly review meetings and keep the department informed about the progress achieved.

He stressed the need for early release of pending instalments to beneficiaries, directing ACDs to conduct block-wise reviews in this regard.

Highlighting the recent survey conducted ahead of the launch of the new phase, he said that although it has been carried out using AI-based technology, deputy commissioners will still review to ensure that no eligible households are missed.