Education Department bans mid-session transfers in Valley

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 24

The Directorate of School Education, Kashmir, has ordered a ban on mid-session transfers in all the schools across the Valley, saying it breaks the academic consistency in the educational institutions.

Director, School Education, Kashmir, Shah Faesal recently told the Chief Education Officers in all the 10 districts of Kashmir to implement the order in letter and spirit.

“In pursuance to extended transfer policy and in order to maintain consistency during the academic session, it is hereby ordered that no mid-session transfers be henceforth processed,” read the Education Department order.

It is further ordered that master/teachers awaiting adjustment should be sent to school with deficient staff, read the order.

Officials said in rare cases where there was a need of transfer the decision would be taken accordingly. “No midterm transfer will be allowed except where there is a need due to complaint or discipline issues or to provide staff to needy schools where there are retirement or promotions,” said Faesal.

Earlier this year, the department had organised a ‘transfer mela’ in all the districts of Kashmir, providing teachers a chance to submit their place of preference ahead before the actual transfer was brought to effect.

The initiative, however, was not fully successful as most of the teachers chose areas nearby to their native places for work and no one was willing to go to a far off school.

The department had then categorised transfers process in three different zones.

Under the policy, a teacher in zone A can return home after day’s duty while a teacher posted in zone B will need to change his residence. A teacher in zone C would be posted in difficult areas like Ladakh or a remote area like Machil, Tanghdar or Gurez for a year. After serving in the area for a year, the teacher would be transferred.