JK teachers Forum has expressed serious concern and surprise on the recent remarks of Principal Secretary Education aganist teachers and called it unfortunate. In a press statement Chairman JK Teachers Forum Mohd Rafique Rather said that disrespctfull attitude of officers of the department is aimed at demonizing the contribution of teaching fraternity during Covid crises and added that teaching fraternity irrespective of cadre and status has been working in extremely adverse working conditions to keep the light of knowledge ignited . Thus the sarcastically calling them ” Mashter washter, Chowkidar appointee, Pagard and intimadating them with suspension and even termination without any valid reason is nothing but to discourage, disgrace and demonise the whole teaching community which is not acceptable and it also tantamounts to dischantment.
Rafique Rather while hailing the untiring commitment of teachers, masters, lecturers and other officials of education department said that Teaching fraternity irrespective of cadre and status is busy in offline/online teaching besides reaching out to the students in far flung areas to handover assignments at their doorsteps. He said that teaching fraternity have performed their duties in covid centres, quarantine centers, majistrate, distribution of ration(MDM) door to door, duties on roads and have worked as frontline warriors aganist pandemic with shoulder to shoulder to district administrations through out Jammu and Kashmir and added that the community need to be respected and encouraged for their valour displayed during Pandemic and in particular post 5th.August 2019 when the field activity almost crippled and all sectors suffered immensely but displaying unflinching commitment to sacred profession teaching community voluntered themselves to continue teaching learning process at the cast of their lives even.
Rafique Rather reminded worthy Com.Secretary education of the unflinching support and cooperation displayed by jk teachers Forum and whole teaching community to each and every initative taken by the deparment and it was the same community which hailed your taking over as head of the depatrment calling you proud son of the soil and would also see at you as the custodian of the honour,dignity and rights of the teaching fraternity. Rafique Rather said that failure of the system(If any) can not be attributed to teachers only but every one working in the system. Rafique Rather lamented that some serious issues of community are pending for long and no progress is seen in resolving these problems. Regularisation of a big chunk of Ret’s and their transfer issue is pending for long now. Posting of head teachers and their salaries is a burning issue which has not been adressed to.Posting of promoted lecturers in science stream has not been done for more then a year now. confirmation of Headmasters, Lecturers, Princials, ZEOs and CEOs and Assured Career Progression (Running Grade) to lecturers is still pending inspite of constitution of dozzens of committees for the purpose. Rafique Rather expressed hope that these serious issues confronting teaching community shall be taken on priority and assured officers at helm of affairs that teachers forum will leave no stone unturned in imparting quality education to the students by variety of learning platforms
