Opinion | Do SSA Teachers deserve to be Transferred? 

Transfer of SSA teachers has been the hot topic of discussion in recent months. Interestingly educationists of the world unanimously believe that transfer is most important tool of learning for a teacher which enables him, how one can develop important competencies to have a better teaching quality.

As per JKs Civil Service Rules 1956,and Rule(27) reads,an employee including a teacher serving in education department, is required to be transferred from one place to another on the post and cadre on which he is borne in and there can’t be any seperate rule providing seperate provision for transfer of teachers on the basis of their entry into service. Huge section of SSA teacher’s are not transferred because they have been at their initial appointment school’s for more than a decade as they are school specific, however most of them are working on deployment/rationalization in high and higher secondary schools for an academic session. Teacher needs to be transferred to a school where he can be more useful or where his services can be better utilized. Thousands of female RETs have been married far off from the school where they are working since their recruitment. Such circumstances affects their duty, their children and their married life.

As employees transfer is their basic right then why those at the helm of affairs still pay unheed towards this grave issue.The SEDs lackadaisical approach towards the transfer needs to be highlighted. Why don’t they frame the policy for these Grade II and Grade III teachers.These teachers have been instrumental in improving in literacy and education standards.;These teachers (SSA) are being excluded in transfer policy only because their appointment was local/ habitation level.If their transfer is made by Grade II verses Grade II and Grade III verses Grade III it might somehow lessen their challenges and issues. Once they are reshuffled, it will definitely bring new perspectives and ideas to their teaching experiences. Excluding them from transfer policy is tantamount to neglect their contribution towards the department.

Teachers contribution can’t be overlooked. Their unwavering contribution towards building up the nation’s precious asset stands praiseworthy. Government must frame a good transfer policy in favour of those teachers who have been performing their duties at their first postings for decades despite the fact that many teachers among them are at verge of retirement. So rotation of teachers is necessary to overcome the shortcomings  in school education department. By transfer students get a good opportunity to learn new things from new teachers.

The no-transfer rule almost hit the particular section in school education department are female teachers, who have to travel dozens of kilometers to reach their school. For those who have been married to far off places even to other districts their plight is pitable. They feel dejected and disappointed. Excluding them from the transfer policy is grave injustice. The issue of their stagnation by not framing the transfer policy  needs to highlighted and addressed.

In present era it holds no genuineness to say a particular cadre of teacher is non transferable. There are female teachers who have got married in other districts, why don’t they hold the right to get transfer. By transferring teachers dissemination of knowledge cum teaching learning process becomes effective and purposeful.Long staying could effect their methodologies in teaching areas. CAT has endorsed by saying that stagnation of teachers minimizes their talent but still they are not considered for transfer. Concerning stockholders must come up with the policy which ensures proper transfer of SSA teachers without being politicizing. This move will provide an exposure to these teachers and great learning experience as well.

Qysar ul islam Shah teacher and colomunist hails from Sonnar Lolab.