JKTJAC Shares Practical Suggestions to Improve Education in Government Schools

The Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Joint Action Committee (JKTJAC) has recently put forward several practical suggestions aimed at improving the education system in government-run schools. These recommendations cover a wide range of issues, from better infrastructure and teacher promotions to filling long-pending vacancies. The committee has urged the education department to take quick action on

I feel this is an important topic to write about because government schools are the backbone of our public education system, especially for children from low-income and rural backgrounds. Despite government efforts and policies, the quality of education in many such schools still needs improvement. When teachers and staff come forward with solutions based on their ground-level experience, it is something worth noticing. Sharing these ideas can start wider conversations and maybe push those in power to act. It’s not just about complaints—it’s about constructive solutions from people who are part of the system every day.

What Is JKTJAC and Why Are Their Suggestions Important?

The Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Joint Action Committee (JKTJAC) is a teachers’ body that regularly interacts with the education department to highlight on-ground challenges and push for reforms. Their recent suggestions are not theoretical—they are based on real classroom and school experiences.

Many of their points touch on things that affect both teachers and students directly:

Promotions for long-serving teachers
Filling posts of headmasters, lecturers, and principals
Providing regular salaries to Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers
Fixing infrastructure issues like classroom shortage and toilets
Ensuring teachers aren’t burdened with non-teaching duties

The reason these demands matter is because they directly affect how well a school functions. A motivated, respected teacher and a properly managed school are the basic needs for good learning.

Key Suggestions Made by JKTJAC

Here are some of the main suggestions that JKTJAC has submitted to the government:

1. Timely Promotions for Teachers

Many teachers who are due for promotions have been waiting for years. JKTJAC demanded that regular Departmental Promotion Committees (DPCs) should be held so that teachers don’t get demotivated.

2. Filling Leadership Vacancies

Schools are running without headmasters, zonal education officers (ZEOs), and lecturers. The committee suggested that acting positions should be regularised and vacant posts filled without further delay.

3. Resolution of Grade and Seniority Issues

They requested early resolution of Grade II and Grade III conversion cases and restoration of seniority to ReT teachers who were affected by court orders.

4. Timely Salaries for SSA Teachers

JKTJAC raised concern over delays in salary payments of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) teachers, which causes mental stress and financial hardship.

5. Infrastructure Improvement

They asked for funds to repair school buildings, build additional classrooms, and install separate toilets for girls and boys.

6. Protection of Teaching Time

Teachers should not be assigned regular non-teaching duties like election work or survey activities. These tasks affect teaching hours and disturb the learning process.

7. Digital Resources

They also demanded that schools be equipped with smart classrooms and internet connectivity to support modern learning methods.

Why This Matters to Parents and Students

If you’re a parent sending your child to a government school, these suggestions directly impact your child’s education. A well-run school with regular teachers, clean classrooms, and motivated staff can change your child’s future.

For students, especially those in remote villages, the school is often the only structured learning environment they have. If the school lacks basic facilities or if teachers are absent or overburdened, it’s the students who suffer the most.

What Can the Government Do Now?

The JKTJAC has not just pointed out the issues, but also provided solutions that are practical and actionable. The government can take the following steps:

Set a timeline for conducting DPCs and regularising pending promotions
Release pending salaries and benefits of SSA and ReT teachers
Immediately fill vacant posts of academic and administrative heads
Allocate special funds for infrastructure development
Avoid assigning teachers to non-teaching duties during academic sessions

These steps may seem administrative, but they have a direct effect on classroom quality and student outcomes.

Education and Employment Can Transform Society: Dinesh Gundu Rao Highlights the Way Forward

During a recent public address in Mangaluru, Karnataka’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stressed that education and employment are two powerful tools that can shape the future of any society. He pointed out that when people are educated and have meaningful jobs, they can rise above social divisions, poverty, and other long-standing issues. His statement came while addressing students and faculty at a function organised at Srinivas University, where he also touched on the importance of knowledge-driven growth.

I felt the need to write about this because it’s rare to hear such a strong political focus on the link between education, employment and overall societal transformation. We often hear about schemes, budgets and infrastructure, but rarely is the bigger picture discussed—how these two sectors can change the life of a common person. This topic matters to all of us, especially the youth, who are navigating a fast-changing job market while also dealing with rising academic pressure. By writing about this, I hope more people start thinking seriously about how education is not just about degrees, and employment is not just about money—it’s about dignity, stability and progress.

Why Education and Employment Matter Together

Education and employment are often treated as separate issues, but in reality, they go hand-in-hand. Education gives people the ability to think, create and contribute. Employment gives them the opportunity to apply what they know, support their families, and be part of the economy. According to Dinesh Gundu Rao, these two pillars must be developed together if we want a fairer and more productive society.

He stressed that:

Lack of access to education pushes people into poverty.
Unemployment leads to frustration, crime, and brain drain.
A society that fails to create job-ready youth will always remain unequal.

This is why investing in schools, colleges, and job-oriented courses is not just a policy decision—it’s a moral responsibility.

Government’s Role in Creating Equal Opportunities

During the event, Rao mentioned that governments should focus not only on building schools and colleges but also on ensuring the quality of education. He said students from rural areas often struggle because they don’t have the same access to English-medium teaching or computer labs as those in urban areas. This kind of inequality reflects in the job market too, where rural youth get fewer chances.

He also pointed out that:

Many graduates remain unemployed or underemployed because they are not industry-ready.
There is a big gap between what is taught in classrooms and what the job market demands.
Career counselling and vocational training should start at the school level.

According to him, if we want to see real change, we need long-term thinking and serious government commitment—not just one-time policies or election promises.

Importance of Social Harmony for Progress

One of the key messages Rao delivered was about unity. He said education should be a tool to unite people and not divide them. The minister raised concern about how communalism and polarisation are slowly taking attention away from important issues like job creation and educational reform.

He added that:

When youth are unemployed, they are more vulnerable to divisive ideologies.
Education can help people develop critical thinking and tolerance.
A strong education and employment ecosystem reduces dependence on populist politics.

He urged young people to stay informed, ask questions, and focus on real-life issues rather than distractions.