Jammu, Feb 19:
The Jammu and Kashmir Border Area Development Conference (JK-BADC) has issued a stern appeal to the UT administration to address the “crippling staff shortage” in government schools across the border district of Poonch.
In a statement released on Thursday, the organization warned that the lack of subject-specific lecturers and teachers is severely undermining the academic future of students in remote and tribal areas.
Staff Shortage “Affecting Academic Standards”
According to Dr. Shazad Ahmed Malik, Chairman of JK-BADC and former Vice Chancellor, numerous vacancies for lecturers, masters, and teachers have remained unfilled for an extended period. This vacancy gap has left classroom learning disrupted and placed an “unsustainable burden” on the remaining staff.
“Strengthening the education sector in border districts is not just about classrooms; it is vital for inclusive development and long-term social stability,” Dr. Shazad stated.
The Key Demands
The JK-BADC has outlined a comprehensive list of requirements to be addressed before the next academic session:
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Immediate Recruitment: Fill all vacant subject-specific posts to prevent further academic loss.
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Non-Teaching Staff: Urgent need for lab technicians, library assistants, and clerical staff to support school operations.
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Infrastructure Survey: A demand for a comprehensive government survey to identify and fix poor building conditions in border belt institutions.
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Remote Access Focus: Special attention to remote and border schools where private education is not an option for most families.
The Border Struggle
The organization, which works primarily for the welfare of tribal and border communities, noted that while education is a fundamental right, students in Poonch are facing a “double disadvantage”—limited geographical access and now, a lack of human resources within schools.
The BADC Chairman urged the Lieutenant Governor’s administration and the School Education Department to take remedial action on a priority basis to ensure that the academic session of 2026 does not face the same hurdles as previous years.
