15 years and counting: Fight between two villages over ReT post keeps Pulwama School closed
Basharat Rashid
Pulwama: A government school in Razak-Shah hamlet of Chewa Ullar village in this south Kashmir district lies defunct from last 15 years.
Locals said that there was dispute over the ReT teacher’s post between two villages some 15 years back, as a result of which the school was closed. Amid the row, the students enrolled there were admitted in other schools by parents, leaving it defunct.
Now that the government has winded up the Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) scheme, the locals have demanded intervention of higher authorities “so that the school may function again for the welfare of students”.
Under the ReT scheme, started in April 2000 and closed last year, the teachers were recruited in the State on the basis of merit and qualification determined at village and even habitation basis.
In May last year, the High Court had observed that scheme led to “back door entry” and played havoc with the educational system in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The scheme (ReT) only focused on providing employment to educated youths in the rural and urban areas and made the merit casualty. Resultantly, thousands of teachers were recruited in the State on the basis of merit and qualification determined at village and even habitation basis,” the court had observed.
The court further observed that it would be befitting if the School Education Department considers prescribing B Ed as a minimum qualification for the post of Teacher.
“B Ed qualification is not simply a higher qualification, but it also equips a teacher with techniques of teaching, to deal with children in the development of their personality and to make them better citizens,” it had said.
The Government, it said, spends a lot of money in imparting B Ed qualification to in service Teachers and “such expenditure can be avoided, if the minimum qualification for Teacher is enhanced to B Ed.”
Meanwhile, Additional deputy commissioner, Shabir Ahmad Raina, said that he has taken up the issue with the officials of education department and “in coming time school may be restarted” by posting teachers there. He however appealed people to preserve it and spare it from dilapidation.
