Minister for Education, Social Welfare, Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, today said that teachers are the cornerstone of the education system and play an indispensable role in shaping the future of society and nation.
The Minister was addressing a one-day Mega Teachers’ Conference on the theme ‘Roles, Rights and Responsibilities of Teachers’, organized by the Jammu and Kashmir Rehbar-e-Taleem Teachers Forum (JKReTTF) at SCERT Bemina here.
The conference witnessed participation of a large number of teachers besides senior officers of the School Education Department.
Addressing the gathering, Sakeena Itoo appreciated the contribution of the teaching community towards nation-building and acknowledged the dedication of Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers, particularly those who have rendered their services in remote, far-flung and difficult areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
She said that the contribution of teachers who served under the Rehbar-e-Taleem scheme has been instrumental in extending education to areas where educational facilities were once either inadequate or non-existent.
“When the Rehbar-e-Taleem scheme was introduced, perhaps no one could have imagined that schools in many remote areas, which were once closed or without adequate teaching facilities, would become functional and vibrant centres of learning. The children educated in these schools have gone on to achieve their goals, and the credit for this transformation goes to our teachers,” the Minister said.
Sakeena Itoo maintained that the Government recognizes the immense contribution of teachers and would continue to take steps to strengthen their dignity, professional standing and welfare.
“A teacher is not merely an employee of the Education Department; a teacher is the person who creates the future of our society. We cannot claim to build a strong and progressive Jammu and Kashmir unless we ensure that our teachers are respected, heard and empowered,” Sakeena Itoo remarked.
The Minister assured the teaching community that the genuine issues raised during the conference would be examined with due seriousness and that the Government would make every effort to address them within the applicable rules and procedures.
“I want to assure you that the Government has worked for you and will continue to work for you. The issues and demands placed before me today are genuine and deserve consideration. We will listen to your concerns, examine them and take them forward so that the hopes of our teaching community are not disappointed,” she said.
Referring to the role of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in supporting the concerns of the teaching community, the Minister said that the Government’s commitment towards teachers was reflected in the resolution recently passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on issues concerning the teaching community.
“The Chief Minister has, on every appropriate occasion, spoken about the concerns and dignity of our teachers. The resolution passed by the Legislative Assembly was not an act of favor, it was an expression of our responsibility towards the teaching community,” she said.
Sakeena Itoo said that she had personally taken up the matter of the Assembly resolution after receiving representations from teachers, adding that she had ensured that the commitment made before the teaching community was translated into a formal legislative resolution.
“I had promised you that we would bring this issue before the Assembly, and I was determined to fulfil that commitment. I did not want the promise to remain merely an announcement. I wanted the resolution to be brought before the House, discussed and passed. I am satisfied that this commitment has now been fulfilled,” she stated.
Sakeena Itoo said that the resolution has provided an opportunity for members of the Legislative Assembly to deliberate upon the importance of teachers and the issues confronting them.
“The discussion in the Assembly once again demonstrated how important our teachers are for Jammu and Kashmir. Members cutting across the House spoke about the contribution of teachers and the need to safeguard their legitimate interests. The time available to the House was limited, but the sentiment was clear—that the teaching community deserves our respect and institutional support,” the Minister said.
The Minister further stated that the Government was not making commitments merely for the sake of announcements, but was working towards taking issues to their logical conclusion.
“My approach has always been that an announcement should be followed by action. I do not believe in making commitments here and leaving them unattended. Wherever an issue requires action at the level of the Department, the concerned Director or the Government, we are pursuing it through the proper process,” she said.
On the demand for a comprehensive transfer policy for Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers, Sakeena Itoo said that the process was already at an advanced stage.
“The transfer policy for Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers is almost ready. We had placed the draft in the public domain so that suggestions could be received from all stakeholders. The suggestions received are now being examined and we are making efforts to incorporate whatever is feasible within the policy framework,” she said.
Sakeena Itoo informed that several issues raised by the teachers require action at different levels, including the concerned Heads of Departments and the administrative authorities, and that the process for examination and disposal of such matters was already underway.
The Minister also urged the teachers and their representatives to ensure that all requisite service records and supporting documents were properly compiled and submitted to the concerned authorities.
“Sometimes, genuine cases get delayed because the required documents are not available on the file. I request our teachers and their representatives to ensure that all documents relating to promotion, service matters and other issues are properly compiled and submitted to the Department. This will help us process cases efficiently and avoid unnecessary delays,” she said.
Sakeena Itoo reiterated that the Government would continue to engage with the teaching community and work towards resolving genuine and long-pending issues through a structured and time-bound process.
“Wherever we have to raise our voice for our teachers, wherever we have to stand with them and wherever their legitimate interests have to be represented, we will do so. We will not shy away from our responsibility,” she asserted.
The Minister also emphasized that empowerment of teachers must go hand in hand with professional accountability and commitment towards students.
“Rights and responsibilities go together. While the Government remains committed to protecting the legitimate rights and dignity of teachers, I also expect every teacher to continue discharging his or her responsibility towards students with dedication, compassion and professionalism,” she said.
She called upon the teaching community to remain committed to the larger objective of providing quality education to children, particularly those belonging to disadvantaged and remote areas.
Director School Education Kashmir, Naseer Ahmad Wani also addressed the conference and appreciated the contribution of Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers in strengthening the education system across Jammu and Kashmir. He acknowledged the dedication of teachers serving in challenging and far-flung areas and underscored their role in ensuring access to education for children in remote communities.
On the occasion, the leadership of the Rehbar-e-Taleem Teachers Forum presented a comprehensive memorandum to the Minister, highlighting various issues concerning the welfare and professional advancement of teachers.
The representatives of the teaching community also expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Education Minister Sakeena Itoo for the resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly concerning the issues of teachers. They said that the decision had strengthened their confidence in the Government’s commitment towards addressing the genuine concerns of the teaching community.