Sakina Itoo Orders Urgent Staffing for 184 “Hanging Schools” Across Jammu and Kashmir
SRINAGAR: In a decisive move to address long-pending administrative lapses in the education sector, Jammu and Kashmir Education Minister Sakina Itoo has directed the School Education Department (SED) to submit a proposal for the creation of staff positions in 184 “hanging schools” to the Finance Department for immediate concurrence.
During a high-level review meeting, officials briefed the minister that these 184 schools had been upgraded over the years without sanctioned staff, forcing them to operate through temporary internal arrangements. Taking strong note of this, Itoo emphasized that such gaps directly impact the quality of education and must be resolved without delay.
She instructed the Director Planning and Director Finance of SED to finalize and forward the staffing proposal at the earliest, ensuring that all procedural formalities are completed swiftly.
The minister also issued strict directions to officers to dispose of official files on priority, warning against any unnecessary delays in processing cases of urgent public importance. She further asked the Secretary, School Education Department, to consult both Directors for drafting a comprehensive transfer policy covering Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers as well as inter-district and inter-divisional transfers.
While reviewing infrastructure and civil works under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, Itoo ordered the establishment of a district-level monitoring system to ensure timely completion and quality control. The 82 engineers engaged under Samagra Shiksha will now be tasked with individual monitoring of ongoing civil works, with monthly progress reviews led jointly by Chief Education Officers (CEOs) and Public Works Department (R&B) engineers.
Itoo also called for immediate preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for all new projects approved under Project Approval Board (PAB) 2025–26. These DPRs are to be handed over to the PW (R&B) Department to initiate tendering and allotment procedures without further delay.
Expressing displeasure over the non-utilization of funds released to various CEOs for urgent needs, the minister directed that available funds be promptly utilized following due procedures. She warned that strict action will follow against officers found parking funds unnecessarily, thereby slowing down developmental progress.
“The focus must remain on improving learning outcomes, timely project execution, and ensuring every school has adequate staff and facilities,” Itoo asserted during the meeting.
Source: Kashmir News Observer (KNO)
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