JAMMU, October 12, 2026 – The Jammu Kashmir Teacher Master Association (JKTMA) organized its monthly meeting on Sunday under the chairmanship of UT President Rakesh Singh to deliberate upon the genuine issues and long-pending demands of the region’s teaching community.
Addressing the gathering, Rakesh Singh lauded recent government initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir, specifically praising the passage of a resolution against the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) and the administration’s decision to extend the benefits of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) to eligible employees. Terming these steps as highly significant for employee welfare, Singh expressed hope that the broader concerns of the teaching fraternity would be addressed with a similar positive approach.
Highlighting a critical shortfall in the education sector, Singh strongly urged the Education Minister to initiate a large-scale Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) process. The move, he stressed, is essential to fill all vacant posts of 10+2 Lecturers in Higher Secondary Schools in a single go. He pointed out that an acute shortage of lecturers, particularly in rural and far-flung areas, is severely hampering the academic progress of students.
Furthermore, the JKTMA leadership demanded that adequately sanctioned posts of Teachers, Masters, and Lecturers be immediately provided to “hanging” higher secondary schools operating with inadequate staffing, ensuring these institutions become fully functional.
Emphasizing the necessity of aligning school education with modern employment trends, Singh urged the government to introduce market-oriented subject combinations and skill-based courses at the senior secondary level. “In order to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in its true spirit, the Government should introduce market-oriented subject combinations and skill-based courses in schools, keeping in view the changing global trends in the employment sector,” he stated.
Drawing the administration’s attention toward existing school infrastructure, Singh also urged authorities to identify and upgrade suitable High Schools to the Higher Secondary level across every Assembly constituency. He emphasized that this rationalization should be based on transparent criteria, including student enrollment, the distance from the nearest Higher Secondary School, and the specific educational needs of the local population.
Published by True Roots Media Network