Maintaining that the government has taken cognizance of the demands of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) teachers, Governor’s advisor, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai on Wednesday said such demands deserved highest consideration.
Ganai was addressing teachers at SKICC during a function organized by directorate of school education Kashmir (DSEK) to mark ‘Teachers Day’.
“SSA teachers are demanding implementation of 7th pay commission in their favour. I must say that this demand deserves highest consideration. The government should take a view in the matter as early as possible,” he said.
He said a committee already stands constituted which has been entrusted to examine the demands of SSA teachers. “The government will resolve the issue once the committee submits its report,” he assured.
The committee which has the administrative secretary finance department as its chairman, comprises administrative secretaries of planning and development department, higher education department, GAD as its members. The administrative secretary school education department is the member secretary of the committee.
“There is no step-motherly treatment meted out or indifferent attitude shown to the teachers by the government,” he said.
He said the government was facing financial problems in implementing 7th pay commission recommendations for SSA teachers.
“Basically, the state would get a significant amount of funds from the centre under erstwhile SSA scheme for the salary of the teachers. But now the funds have been curtailed by 50 percent under new integrated scheme Smagra Shiksha,” he said.
He said the teachers should not take any such step as would have a “negative impression” of them on the students. “Teachers have to become role models and deliver quality education. You should prepare your own lesson before you deliver it to the students,” he said
Earlier in his welcome address secretary school education department, Rigzin Sampheal said, “Teachers have played a role by improving literacy in Jammu and Kashmir.”
Sampheal said J&K students have immense potential and are talented.
Vice chancellor (VC) Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) Prof, Mushtaq Siddique, VC Central university of Kashmir (CUK) Mehraj-ud-din, VC cluster university Srinagar, Prof. Sheikh Javaid also spoke at the occasion.
On the occasion, Advisor Ganai also gave away the best teachers’ award to Hilal Ahmed Lone from government girls higher secondary school (HSS) Kangan and Charanpreet Kour from government middle school Smailpur of Samba district.