The in-service teachers have urged authorities in school education department to allow their deputation to Universities for pursuing post-graduation courses. The deputation was stopped in 2016 when Kashmir University (KU) abolished the reservation quota for the teachers for admission to post-graduation courses. Earlier, the in-service graduate teachers would avail the department facility to go for PG courses through regular mode in KU after serving in the department for three years. “After the reservation quota was abolished by the KU, our department stopped deputation of teachers to universities to pursue PG courses through regular mode,” said Muhammad Akhtar one of the teachers.
“Teachers used to get full salary and study leave,” an official in education department said. He said around 20 to 25 teachers were deputed for PG courses. The KU would offer admission in Zoology, Chemistry, Botany, Mathematics, Psychology and English. “Each department used to have four seats for teacher candidates,” the official said. Under teacher-candidate category a separate entrance test used to be held by varsity wherein only four candidates in each department were selected for PG courses. However, since 2016 the school education department has barred the in-service teachers to appear in open entrance of the KU for PG admissions. “In 2017, in-service teachers appeared in KU PG entrance test and qualified it as well but they were not allowed by the department to pursue the course,” Akhtar said.
The teachers said the practice was in vogue in higher education department wherein the assistant professors or lecturers are allowed to pursue Ph.D while being in service. However the school education department has blocked this option for teachers. “If department will allow teachers to pursue higher education it will enable them to contribute in the department efficiently,” said another teacher. The in-service teachers have sought intervention of J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik, advisor Khursheed Ahmad Ganai and secretary school education department. Director school education Kashmir (DSEK) Muhammad Younis Malik said the matter will be reviewed by the department.