Sopore, Oct 5: Commissioner Secretary Higher Education Department (HED) Ram Niwas Sharma on Monday said transfers under the Annual Transfer Drive (ATD) would continue as a routine process, saying that the department would not allow the academic session in schools and colleges to be disturbed.
Talking to media persons on the sidelines of a sports event at Government Degree College for Women (GDCW), Sopore, Ram Niwas Sharma said the transfer process was normal and the employees should analyse their postings and proceed accordingly.
“We would not like to disturb the academic session in the schools and colleges. Transfer is a normal process. It will continue,” he said.
“ATD has been done. They have to just analyse and go ahead. This is a routine thing,” Sharma said.
About incentives for teachers posted in far-off areas, the Commissioner Secretary refused to comment on the issue.
“I cannot comment on the statement made by education minister,” he told reporters here.
As already reported by Greater Kashmir, Minister for Education Sakina Itoo said that instead of those posted in city and towns, teachers posted in far off areas will be given incentives for serving remote areas.
“This will encourage and motivate them to serve in the far off areas and they deserve such incentives instead of those teachers posted in city schools,” Itoo earlier told reporters in Srinagar.
Meanwhile, about the demand from parents for change in school timings across the Kashmir region in view of cold weather during morning hours, Sharma said the concerned director would take a call on the matter.
“I will be happy on that day when we will have the school open for 220 days,” he said.
On making education skill oriented, Sharma also said J&K was moving rapidly towards skill-based and vocational education, terming it a need of the time.
He said around 1.54 lakh students in schools were currently studying different skills, while most courses offered by colleges and universities also incorporated skill components.
“We are moving very fast in that direction and that is a need of the time,” he said.
On prospects of private university investment in north Kashmir, Sharma said the J&K Assembly had passed the relevant legislation during its last session and the rules were currently awaiting approval from the competent authority.
He said once the act and rules were in place, investment in the private university sector would be done not only from across the country but also from abroad.
“The moment the rules are in place, it will start coming,” Sharma said.
Earlier, Commissioner Secretary HED inaugurated the first-ever north Kashmir Women’s Sports Festival at Government Degree College for Women, Sopore.
Around 900 athletes from 14 degree colleges and five higher secondary schools are participating in the three-day festival, which features competitions in seven sporting disciplines.
Sharma said the participation of women athletes from across North Kashmir was a matter of pride and described the event as a major step towards promoting sports among young women.
“Nine hundred plus athletes are present here. Not only for North Kashmir, but for the whole of Jammu and Kashmir, for the whole nation, it is a proud moment where our daughters are going to play on the field,” he said.
Sharma congratulated the participants and expressed hope that they would excel in sports and their future careers and contribute to nation-building.
Special Secretary Higher Education Safqat Iqbal, SSP SoporeIftkharTalib and Principal GDCW Sopore Prof SubeenaChiloo were also present on the occasion.
