Srinagar, Oct 4: Minister for Education, Social Welfare, Health and Medical Education Sakeena Itoo on Saturday described teachers as the cornerstone of the education system, assuring the teaching community that the government would address their genuine and long-pending concerns through a structured process.
She was speaking at a one-day Mega Teachers’ Conference on ‘Roles, Rights and Responsibilities of Teachers’, organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Rehbar-e-Taleem Teachers Forum (JKReTTF) at SCERT Bemina. The conference was attended by a large number of teachers and senior officers of the School Education Department.
Sakeena Itoo appreciated the contribution of teachers, particularly Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers serving in remote, far-flung and difficult areas of Jammu and Kashmir. She said their efforts had helped transform schools in underserved areas into functional centres of learning.
“A teacher is not merely an employee of the Education Department; a teacher is the person who creates the future of our society,” she said, stressing that teachers must be respected, heard and empowered.
The Minister assured the participants that their genuine demands would be examined seriously and pursued within the applicable rules and procedures.
Referring to the recent Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly resolution concerning teachers, Sakeena said the government’s commitment to the teaching community was reflected in the legislative initiative.
She said she had personally pursued the matter after receiving representations from teachers and ensured that the issue was brought before and discussed in the Assembly.
Sakeena also said the proposed transfer policy for Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers was at an advanced stage. She said the draft had been placed in the public domain for suggestions and the feedback received was being examined for incorporation wherever feasible.
Urging teachers and their representatives to maintain proper service records, she said incomplete documentation often delayed genuine cases related to promotions and other service matters.
“My approach has always been that an announcement should be followed by action,” the Minister said, adding that issues requiring intervention at departmental or administrative levels were being pursued through the proper channels.
She, however, emphasised that rights must go hand in hand with responsibilities, urging teachers to continue discharging their duties towards students with dedication, compassion and professionalism.
Director School Education Kashmir Naseer Ahmad Wani also addressed the conference and acknowledged the contribution of Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers in expanding access to education, particularly in remote communities.
The JKReTTF leadership presented a memorandum highlighting various issues concerning the welfare, service conditions and professional advancement of teachers.
The representatives thanked Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Sakeena Itoo for the Assembly resolution and expressed hope that the government would take the pending issues to their logical conclusion.