Minister for Education Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari has said the government is serious in solving the issues of teacher fraternity including streamlining of salary under SSA.Responding to the demands raised by a deputation of ReT teachers Forum who called on him here today, he listed series of reforms taken and those in the pipeline to raise the education standard in Government Schools and address the issues of serving and retired teacher fraternity. He said special focus has been laid on issues of teachers and implementation of far reaching reforms introduced to improve the quality of school education.Acknowledging the issue of delay in release of SSA teachers’ salaries, the Minister said that government is working seriously to look for a solution to this problem.
“Major portion of funds for this category of teachers come from centre, which mostly get delayed. But we are looking for a workable alternate mechanism to overcome this problem” he assured. The Minister also informed that the Government is mulling to establish Teachers Welfare Fund on the pattern of Police department. He said orders have already been issued to the concerned to complete homework and come up with a workable mechanism for handling the Fund. He said the state Government led by Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti was keen to restore and raise the dignity of the teaching fraternity as they are the only inspiring force for the young generation.Earlier, the deputation members presented a memorandum of demands to the Minister seeking regular release of salaries under SSA, transfer policy for ReT teachers and release of arrears. They also demanded bringing the ReT teachers’ salary under state non-plan, regularization of eligible EVs converted as ReTs and the ReTs who have got their degrees from outside state UGC recognized universities.