As many as 145 posts of headmasters in Kashmir division and over 60 posts of principals at state level are lying vacant in government schools, taking a toll on official as well as academic work in these educational institutions.
“These posts are managed by other officials as their additional charge,” director school education Kashmir, G N Itoo, said.
He said all these posts are reserved category posts which have been kept intact in the wake of Supreme Court guidelines that persons appointed in reserved category posts cannot e given promotion on the basis of the reserved category.
“That is why these posts have remained vacant till date. We have made the interim arrangements,” he said.
Pertinently, the Supreme Court had directed that the persons appointed on basis of reserved category cannot be given the benefit of the category at the time of promotions.
The dearth of headmasters and principals has not only affected the work in educational institutions but has adverse impact on the functioning of research centres like District Institutes of Education and Trainings (DIETs) as well.
The DIETs have only one or two head of the departments in position against the sanctioned posts. Each DIET has around seven subject-wise sections headed by one head of the department and the post is equivalent to principal of higher secondary school.
“But we have only two to three HoDs in each DIET given the dearth of principals in education department,” an official said. Pertinently, every district has one DIET each which is meant for teacher-training and other research works besides holding students related programmes.
Also, five DIETs in Kashmir are headless given the dearth of DIET principals in school education department. These institutes include Kupwara, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Budgam and Anantnag.
“The DIET principal is equivalent to the post of chief education officer. But the posts are lying vacant due to dearth of people of this rank,” an official said.
However, DSEK G N Itoo said the posts would be filled after people in the department are promoted to this rank. “We are aware of the situation and all the issues will be addressed by the department,” Itoo said.