Srinagar, Sep 23: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has revealed significant staffing gaps in the School Education Department, with 2,154 Lecturer posts and 5,278 Master posts lying vacant across the Union Territory.
The figures were disclosed in response to a question raised by Jasrota MLA Rajiv Jasrotia in the Legislative Assembly.
According to the government’s reply, while the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) recommended 586 candidates for Lecturer posts, appointment orders have been issued to only 327 candidates so far. The remaining appointments will follow completion of codal formalities, and the adjustment and posting of appointed Lecturers is also in the pipeline.
The department has 268 vacant Principal posts and 633 vacant Headmaster posts. Of the Principal vacancies, the process has been initiated to fill 138 posts from among Senior Lecturers. The remaining posts will be filled from the ZEO cadre in an 80:20 ratio under the J&K School Education (Gazetted) Service Recruitment Rules, 2010.
Under a 2018 State Administrative Council decision, the department was authorised to fill 4,224 Lecturer posts through 100 per cent promotion from eligible PG Masters and Teachers. So far, 270 posts have been filled, while 2,154 posts are under process.
For direct recruitment, 594 Lecturer vacancies in 27 disciplines were referred to the JKPSC, which recommended 586 candidates.
The department reported 5,278 Master vacancies across J&K, including 2,815 in Jammu Division and 2,463 in Kashmir Division.
In Kashmir Division, Kupwara has the highest number of Master vacancies at 413, followed by Anantnag with 359 and Budgam with 312. In Jammu Division, Rajouri has 408 vacancies, Poonch 381 and Kathua 335.
For Jasrota constituency specifically, the department reported one Principal, 46 Lecturer, four Headmaster and 37 Master vacancies.
The government said the available teacher vacancies have been utilised for the transition of Teacher Grade-II and Grade-III. It also stated that 28,363 supernumerary Teacher Grade-II posts were created for adjustment of ReT teachers.
Significantly, no non-gazetted posts, including Teachers, have been referred for recruitment for more than five years.
The department said most Master vacancies under the promotion quota are currently occupied on a substantive basis by incumbents working in-charge, including In-charge Headmasters and In-charge Lecturers.
