Jammu, February 19 A total of 12,977 teaching positions are vacant across Jammu and Kashmir, and the School Education Department has not upgraded any schools since 2024, Education Minister Sakeena Itoo said on Thursday.
In her written reply to a starred question by BJP MLA Shri Shakti Raj Parihar in the Legislative Assembly here, the minister said that 7,985 teacher positions are vacant in the Jammu division and 4,992 in the Kashmir division.
According to the data by district, Rajouri (1,416), Kathua (1,332), Jammu (1,234), and Poonch (946) are among the districts with the highest vacancies in the Jammu division, while Anantnag (1,016), Budgam (797), Pulwama (764) and Kupwara (621) top the list in the Kashmir division.
Regarding promotional vacancies for Masters, Itoo said that 1,722 positions are vacant in the Kashmir division and 224 in the Jammu division.
Itoo said that all promotional vacancies are being filled through Divisional Level Departmental Promotion Committees (DPCs) in accordance with rules.
In response to another query, the minister said that no middle, high or higher secondary school has been upgraded since November 2024.
"There is no immediate proposal under consideration for upgrading schools to the next level, particularly in hilly and remote areas of Doda district," Itoo said.
She added that upgrading requires the development of infrastructure and the creation of teaching and non-teaching positions, which involves financial implications and requires concurrence from the Finance Department.
However, whenever such a proposal is mooted, feasible schools in Doda district would be considered strictly in accordance with feasibility reports, existing norms and requirements, the minister said.