The Kashmir Pulse

KULGAM — The education sector in southern Kashmir's Kulgam district is struggling due to numerous vacant key positions, including the Chief Education Officer (CEO), Deputy CEO, and 16 Principals, among 170 posts, thereby impacting the quality of education in the district severely.

Figures accessed by the news agency KNO reveal that a position each of Chief Education Officer, Deputy CEO, 16 Principals, 124 Lecturers, 3 ZEOs, 4 ZPEOs, and 21 Headmasters are lying vacant in Kulgam district.

"The Chief Education Officer retired in May this year, and the CEO of Anantnag has been assigned the additional charge of CEO Kulgam. The position of Dy CEO Kulgam has been vacant for many years, with the DDO powers of Dy CEO Kulgam currently assigned to a senior HSS Principal," officials said.

They said that out of 321 sanctioned lecturer posts in the 26 higher secondary schools, only 197 are currently filled, leaving 124 lecturer posts vacant.

"In Kulgam district, there are 26 higher secondary schools (HSSs), but only 10 have Principals, leaving 16 HSSs, including GHSS Kulgam, GHSS Yaripora, and HSS Qaimoh, without heads," officials said.

To address the crisis, the School Education Department has begun the process of hiring 58 allocated ‘Cluster Resource Coordinators’ to provide temporary teaching support in high and higher secondary schools, but these positions have not yet been filled.

Officials further said that there are around six education zones in Kulgam, three of which are vacant: DH Pora, Qaimoh, and Kulgam.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kulgam, Athar Amir Khan, said that in-charge principals are in place in all these educational institutions. "The matter has also been taken up with the Education Department," he said.

SRINAGAR — The Jammu and Kashmir Government dismissed four employees on Tuesday, citing their alleged involvement in anti-national activities, in a move stressing its zero-tolerance policy towards militancy.

The dismissed employees include two constables from the Police Department, a junior assistant from the School Education Department, and a village-level worker from the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.

According to an official communiqué, the dismissals were made under Article 311 of the Indian Constitution, which permits removal from service for involvement in activities detrimental to national security. The affected individuals were reportedly found to have engaged in activities linked to militancy and drug trafficking.

Imtiyaz Ahmad Lone, a constable from Pulwama, was accused of supplying and transporting arms and ammunition to support militant activities. Bazil Ahmad Mir, a junior assistant in the School Education Department from Kupwara, was implicated in running a drug syndicate and trafficking narcotics with connections to militant networks.

Mushtaq Ahmad Pir, a selection grade constable in the Jammu and Kashmir Police from Kupwara, was found to have established ties with narcotic smugglers in Pakistan, operating a drug cartel in north Kashmir and maintaining links with militant groups.

Mohammad Zaid Shah, a village-level worker from the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, was accused of drug peddling and facilitating the flow of heroin into Jammu and Kashmir from across the Line of Control. Shah was reported to have significant involvement in funding militant activities through the drug trade.

The Jammu and Kashmir Government has again emphasized its commitment to rooting out anti-national elements from its ranks, maintaining strict measures against individuals who exploit their positions for nefarious purposes.

SRINAGAR — The Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) on Tuesday announced a revised school timing schedule to mitigate the effects of the ongoing heatwave in the Valley.

Starting Tuesday, July 23, and continuing until August 10, all government and private schools in Kashmir up to the higher secondary level will function from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. Teaching and non-teaching staff will report for duty from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm.

The order from DSEK comes amid numerous appeals from parents and other stakeholders expressing concerns about the impact of the extreme heatwave on students.

Pertinently, weather forecasts indicate that the region will continue to experience high temperatures in the coming days.

SRINAGAR — With the persistent heatwave in Kashmir, teachers and parents on Monday urged the School Education Department to either adjust school timings or announce an additional summer break.

Speaking to the news agency KNO, General Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Teacher Association (JKTA) Hatim Qayoom said the persistent heatwave is affecting the studies badly and the concerned should consider the change in school timing in both rural and urban areas.

“Due to the extremely hot weather conditions, nowadays, students in schools are feeling low mostly from afternoon onwards. This is affecting their studies badly,” Qayoom said.

He requested the concerned authorities to take appropriate measures in this regard.

Meanwhile, a delegation of various fronts visited the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) in this regard.

Parents of the students have also urged the government either to change the timing of schools or extend the summer break.

One of the parents of a student, Manzoor Ahmad said the current weather conditions in Kashmir were not favourable for the students to attend the classes. He, however, said that schooling is also important for students. “The government should either announce further summer vacations or change the timing of schools immediately," he said.

Another parent said he has decided to keep his son back at home till the weather situation improves. “Nothing is more important than the health of my son. I can bear this loss but I can’t compromise the health of my child,” he said.

Pertinently, Kashmir Valley is reeling under an intense heatwave and the MeT department has informed that the situation will almost remain the same for at least a week.

Director of School Education Kashmir Tassaduq Hussain Mir was not available for their comments.

Meanwhile, top officials of the School Education Department said that they were assessing the situation in this regard. “We will seek suggestions from the concerned stakeholders and will take a call accordingly,” the official said.

Earlier on June 30, the School Education Department announced summer break for all schools falling in winter zones from July 08 to 17.

SRINAGAR — The School Education Department on Tuesday clarified that there will be no extension in summer vacation and subsequently ordered students to resume classes from July 18.

According to the news agency KNO, SED on microblogging site X said that all schools including government-owned and recognized private ones shall be re-opened on July 18, 2024 after summer vacations across the UT.

It also ordered the Chief Education Officers, Zonal Education Officers and Heads of Institutions to follow the cleanness advisory.

The cleanliness advisory asked the school heads to ensure that all premises, including classrooms, corridors, and common areas, are thoroughly cleaned with special attention towards clean toilets, ensuring these are hygienic and well-maintained. It also asked to ensure clean water as well as disinfecting water tanks to ensure safe drinking water. Also, ensure rooftops are free of debris and dirt.

The advisory further stressed trimming and maintaining lawns and grounds to provide a neat and safe environment for students; clearing any junk, waste, or debris from the school premises to maintain a clean and clutter-free environment; identifying and removing any stagnant water to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes and other pests; and inspecting the premises for any water leakages and ensure they are promptly repaired to avoid water wastage and potential damage to the infrastructure.

SED in the advisory further said, “These measures are crucial to provide a safe, clean, and conducive environment for students as they return to school.”

Earlier on June 30, SED announced summer break for all schools falling in winter zones from July 8 to July 17.

SRINAGAR — The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Saturday dismissed four employees including two Constables in J&K Police, a teacher in Education Department and an Assistant Lineman in Jal Shakti Department in terms of Article 311 of the Constitution of India for their alleged involvement in anti-national activities.

In a statement to the news agency KDC, a government spokesman said, “The activities of these employees had come to the adverse notice of law enforcement and intelligence agencies, as they found them involved in activities prejudicial to the interests of the State, such as involvement in terror-related activities.”

According to the statement, Abdul Rehman Dar, son of Sona Ullah Dar and a resident of Larmooh locality of Tral area in Pulwama district, who was a Selection Grade Constable in Police Department, was involved in the commission of the offence of not only carrying illegal arms and ammunition from one place to another for their delivery to the militants but also providing camouflage uniform cloth and other material to them, taking undue and criminal advantage of his being a member of the police force.

Another Constable in J&K Police, Ghulam Rasool Bhat, son of Jawaid Hyder Bhat and a resident of Lalgam locality of Tral area in Pulwama district, is also allegedly involved in the commission of the offence of carrying illegal arms and ammunition from one place to another for delivery to the militants. As a Kote NCO in the armory of a district, he was allegedly supplying ammunition and weapons to the militants for a long time. "He was linked to the terrorist ecosystem, through a network of OGWs, who have been operating at the behest of terrorist outfits based in Pakistan."

A teacher in the Education Department, Shabeer Ahmad Wani, son of Mohammad Ashraf Wani and a resident of Bungam locality of Damhal Hanjipora area in Kulgam district, has been an active member of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and is a proscribed separatist associate having tangible links with militant organization, the statement said.

"He played a substantial role in strengthening JeI and creating a network of people among JeI sympathizers. Various FIRs have been registered against him because of his direct involvement in inciting and leading an unlawful assembly of mob instigating rioting and violence in D.H. Pora, during the 2016 unrest," the statement said.

As per the statement, he continues to be "a hardcore OGW of banned terror outfits, in particular the HM, and his affiliation has perpetually aided terrorist activities in and around Kulgam, collecting information for facilitating attacks, clandestinely."

An Assistant Lineman in the Jal Shakti Department, Anayatullah Shah Pirzada, son of Abdul Rashid Shah Pirzada and a resident of Watergam locality of Rafiabad area in Baramulla district, is accused of being a militant associate of Al-Badr Mujahideen.

As per the spokesman, Anayatullah has worked covertly in a variety of ways to support the agenda of militants. "He had direct association with dreaded terrorists like Yousuf Baloch and Tameem, who were the commanders of Al-Badr Mujahideen, operating at different times in Kashmir. He has been involved in various FIRs pertaining to the recovery of satellite phones, hand grenades etc and communicating with the terrorists of Al-Badr Mujahideen based in Pakistan."

The government, as per the statement, has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards anti-national elements who have been taking advantage of being in government service.