4325 teaching positions vacant in Jammu, 3986 in Kashmir: Govt

Mar 11, 2025 3986 in Kashmir: Govt, 4325 teaching positions vacant in Jammu

The Jammu and Kashmir Government today informed the Legislative Assembly that total 8311 teaching positions at different level are vacant in the region, 4325 of them in Jammu division and remaining 3986 in the Kashmir division

The Government also claimed that under the rationalization scheme, it has merged 4358 schools in the Union Territory, 1274 of them in the Jammu division and 3084 in the Kashmir division due to various reasons.

Replying a starred question of Rajiv Jasrotia, the BJP MLA from Jasrota Assembly Constituency of Kathua district, regarding the district-wise details of schools merged, vacancies of teachers, masters, ReTs, lecturers, head masters and principals in the UT, the Minister incharge Education Department, Sakeena Itoo informed the House that the Department has merged total 4358 schools in the region, with 1274 of them in Jammu region and remaining 3084 in the Kashmir region.

In Jammu region, the Minister said highest 354 schools have been merged in Jammu district, followed by 238 schools in Kathua, 125 in Samba, 113 in Doda, 103 in Poonch, 98 in Rajouri, 91 in Udhampur, 72 in Kishtwar, 61 in Reasi, and least 19 in the Ramban district.
In Kashmir division, she said, highest 638 schools have been closed in Baramulla district, followed by 469 in Kupwara, 422 in Anantnag, 353 in Budgam, 289 in Bandipora, 267 in Kulgam, 204 in Pulwama, 168 in Srinagar, 148 in Shopian, and least 126 in Ganderbal district.

Regarding the criteria adopted for closure of the schools, the Minister incharge Education Department, Sakeena Itoo replied that it was done keeping into consideration several factors like functioning of schools in same vicinity, schools functioning without building or from rented structures, schools with zero and less enrolment, and the surplus teachers from these schools were deployed/rationalized as per the actual need of the area, zone, and the district.

On another question about the vacancies of the teaching staff, the Minister claimed that there are 8311 vacancies in the region, with 1665 posts of teachers and masters, 2218 of lecturers, 402 of head masters, and 40 of principals lying vacant in Jammu division.
Similarly, in Kashmir, she said, total 1671 posts of teachers and masters, 1957 of lecturers, 300 of head masters, and 58 posts of principals are lying vacant.

In reply to another question regarding the policy laid down for verification of degrees of teaching staff and district-wise output achieved in this regard, Itoo said the Department directly forwards the certificates to the concerned Universities for verification against requisite fee and the report once received is processed accordingly.

Regarding the output achieved in this regard, she said, in Jammu division, 7721 files were examined. Out of them, she said, 4617 files were verified and recommended for one time exemption and 3104 files were found deficient for want of requisite documents.
As far as Kashmir region is concerned, she informed the House that total 5750 files were examined in the region. Of them, 4253 were verified and recommended for one time exemption and 1497 were found deficient for want of requisite documents.

Regarding the detailed particulars of University/Board/Study Centers, the degrees of which were found invalid in UT of J&K, she replied with, “Only those Universities are entertained whose name figures in the list of recognized Universities presently (uploaded) on the website of University Grants Commission for entertaining the degree mechanism as detailed in Government Order Number 940- Edu of 2017 dated November 17, 2017.”