Srinagar, July 21:
To tackle the ongoing staff shortage in government schools, the Jammu and Kashmir School Education Department (SED) has launched a recruitment drive to hire 164 Cluster Resource Coordinators (CRCs) and 550 subject-specific teachers on a contractual basis.
Official figures reveal that over 4,000 lecturer positions are currently unfilled in high and higher secondary schools across the region. While the department had earlier reassigned postgraduate teachers from lower-level schools to address the gap, this new recruitment initiative represents a more organized approach to resolving the issue.
Recruitment Details
- 164 Cluster Resource Coordinators (CRCs):
To be appointed for the ongoing 2024–25 academic session. Applications will be invited by the Directorate of School Education, Kashmir (DSEK). - 550 Subject-Specific Teachers:
To be engaged for the 2025–26 academic year under Samagra Shiksha. The recruitment will be done strictly on a contractual basis.
Vacancy Status
- Sanctioned Lecturer Posts: 10,330
- Posts Filled: 6,130
- Vacancies Remaining: Over 4,200
The government has already referred 594 lecturer posts to the J&K Public Service Commission (JKPSC) for permanent recruitment. Additionally, the department is promoting eligible in-service candidates to fill part of the gap.
No Regularization Promise
The department has clarified that the upcoming contractual appointments will be purely temporary and will not guarantee future regularization. The appointments are meant solely to support the current and upcoming academic sessions.
Funding & Implementation
The recruitment of the 550 teachers will be funded under the centrally sponsored Samagra Shiksha scheme. The Project Director of Samagra Shiksha has been requested to grant administrative approval to expedite the hiring process.
Government’s Stand
Education Minister Sakina Itoo stated,
“This initiative will help restore academic functioning in schools and support students who have long been affected by the lack of qualified teachers.”
The move is expected to bring temporary relief to thousands of students across Jammu and Kashmir, especially in remote and underserved regions (GK)
