Srinagar, July 30: Minister for School Education, Higher Education and Social Welfare, Sakeena Masood Itoo on Thursday assured the teaching fraternity that all genuine and long-pending service issues would be examined sympathetically and resolved on priority.

Addressing a one-day Teachers' Convention organised by the Jammu & Kashmir Teachers Joint Action Committee (JKTJAC) at Teachers' Bhawan, Bemina, the Minister paid tributes to teachers for their invaluable contribution to nation-building, saying they play a pivotal role in shaping future generations through knowledge, values and character.
"The future of our nation rests in the hands of teachers, whose dedication and commitment have enabled countless students to excel in different fields and contribute meaningfully to society," she said.
Highlighting recent reforms in the School Education Department, Sakeena Itoo said several long-pending administrative and service matters have been addressed to strengthen educational governance and improve human resource management. She said the department has initiated the placement of eligible PG Masters and PG Teachers as In-charge Lecturers to overcome faculty shortages in Higher Secondary Schools.
The Minister informed that updated final seniority lists of 20,281 PG Masters/PG Teachers across 31 of 36 disciplines have been issued after several years, while the final seniority list of 3,509 Headmasters has also been notified.
She further said the department has promoted 136 Senior Lecturers as In-charge Principals, 22 Principals as In-charge Chief Education Officers, and 1,083 Masters as In-charge Headmasters. To fill teaching vacancies, 594 Lecturer posts in 27 subjects were referred to the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission, which has recommended 537 candidates in 26 subjects.
Expressing concern over the issues faced by teachers, the Minister said those who have devoted decades to educating society deserve fair treatment and timely resolution of their grievances. She assured the gathering that every genuine demand would be examined with empathy and seriousness.
Sakeena Itoo reiterated that the government remains committed to protecting the interests of teachers while strengthening the education sector across Jammu and Kashmir through transparent and time-bound reforms.
She also distributed appointment and promotion orders to several candidates and officials during the convention.
The programme was attended by Special Secretary School Education Ghulam Rasool Mir, Director School Education Kashmir Naseer Ahmad Wani, Chief Education Officer Srinagar, senior departmental officers and representatives of the teaching fraternity from across Jammu and Kashmir.