SRINAGAR: Only five of the 27 sanctioned Kashmiri teacher posts across ten districts in the Kashmir division are currently filled, leaving 22 posts vacant, the School Education Department informed the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in response to an unstarred question tabled by MLA Mubarik Gul.
According to district-wise figures placed before the House, Kupwara has the highest sanctioned strength of five Kashmiri teacher posts, but none of them are filled. Similarly, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Pulwama and Shopian also have no teachers in position despite sanctioned posts, leaving all two posts vacant in Baramulla, two in Ganderbal, two in Pulwama and one in Shopian.
Anantnag has four sanctioned posts, of which only one is filled and three remain vacant. Budgam also has four sanctioned posts with one filled and three vacant. In Bandipora, one of the three sanctioned posts is filled, leaving two vacancies, while Kulgam has three sanctioned posts with one teacher in position and two vacancies.
Srinagar is the only district where the sole sanctioned Kashmiri teacher post has been filled, leaving no vacancy.
The data submitted to the Assembly show that the sanctioned strength of Kashmiri lecturer posts increased in phases, beginning with 11 posts created before 2009, followed by additional posts sanctioned through government orders in 2009, 2018 and 2019, taking the total to 27 posts.
The School Education Department confirmed that Kashmiri has been introduced as a subject in schools and is currently being taught in higher secondary schools across the Kashmir division. However, the reply also stated that Kashmiri is not taught as a subject in schools of the Jammu division.
The department said implementation of Kashmiri language teaching in line with the National Education Policy 2020 is being overseen by Chief Education Officers under the Directorate of School Education, Kashmir.
