The recent rationalization process of teaching staff across Kashmir Valley has been marred by allegations of unfairness and favoritism. Several rationalized teachers alleged that no specific parameters were followed during the rationalization process. Some of the teachers informed the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the rationalization process is carried out while considering parameters like subject specialists, enrollment, qualification and stay period etc.

“However, apparently no such parameters were followed during the process,” said one of the teachers. Another teacher said that the subject specialists like Math and Science teachers are working in primary schools and general line teachers are directed to teach math and science in secondary classes. “Moreover, teachers with a stay period of more than 10 to 15 years were not even touched; instead, teachers with less stay were rationalized,” he said.

Some of the rationalized teachers said that the high schools, especially in Srinagar have an acute shortage of staff, particularly Math and Science Teachers. “But nothing was done to address this issue.” Meanwhile another teacher said, “The favoritism in the process took place due to the reason that Cluster Heads were asked to rationalize the staff.

They forwarded the names of teachers as per their wish and choice.” “The concerned CEO Offices received the list of teachers from the clusters and rationalized the staff without checking if the parameters were followed or not,” he said. Earlier, a rationalization list was prepared by the ZEOs and was later forwarded to the director for approval. However, DSEKs office rejected that list and asked the CEOs to carry out a rationalization process at the Cluster level.

“This has created a mess in schools as staff is not distributed rationally in the schools. Teachers who should have been deployed in primary schools are working in high and higher secondary schools and teachers meant for High and Higher Secondary schools are working in primary schools,” said a teacher. The teachers urged the concerned authorities to thoroughly check the list of rationalized teaching staff and unfairness or alleged favoritism cases. Meanwhile, an official of the School Education Department said,

“It was not possible to rationalize the teaching staff at zone level, thus the responsibility of staff rationalization was given to the cluster heads.” The official on asking about the parameters being set for the rationalization process said, “The Pupil Teacher Ratio is the only parameter that was being followed during the rationalization process.”—(KNO)