The recent order of IMPACT training has widened the gulf between the different teacher cadres. A particular section is feeling alienated and maltreated
Some two decades earlier, there was a single cadre of teachers in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, though there were FAT teachers and promotees as well. But, all were called teachers. There was no segregation or categorization of teachers in terms of nomenclature. Everyone, who used to teach in schools, was called a teacher by common masses. Every teacher was a teacher, though the profession was stigmatized by many so-called intellectuals and the upper class of our society. Even the perception has not altogether changed yet, rather the stigmatization is still prevalent in our society. Poor masterji like taunts are still heard. The situation has deteriorated further during the last two decades or so. The situation has turned tumultuous and chaotic for teachers in general and for SSA borne teachers in particular. Government has created a class-division in teaching community of Jammu and Kashmir on the basis of nomenclature. The division has almost resulted in a class-war which is slowly decaying our educational system.
It was the government of Jammu and Kashmir which recruited qualified and competent people on meager stipend as teachers, under the scheme known as Rehbari-Taleem scheme. With the inception of SSA in the entire country, new schools were opened, and many were upgraded. Consequently, qualified youth of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir ware recruited as Rehbari-Taleem teachers. During the first decade of this century, the term Ret became a household name. Every Tom, Dick and Harry began to ridicule teachers as RT. The term RT is synonymous to ridicule and humiliation. The term has become infamous in our local jargon. Even many matrimonial offers were rejected for the attribution of this term with young people. But, things turned uglier when the term “SSA teacher “was coined in the second decade of twenty first century. SSA borne teachers are looked down as untouchables. Then came the infamous standoff between these teachers and the then PDP-BJP led coalition government, and later the then governor administration of the erstwhile state. The standoff tore the esteem and credibility of these teachers into pieces. Many people, including some ill-minded jurnos resorted to mud-slinging against these teachers. These SSA borne teachers were denied of their legitimate rights, and even the credibility of their recruitment orders were put at stake. The stalemate continued for almost a year or so.
Finally, the administration had no justification to deny the emoluments of 7th pay commission to the SSA borne teachers. But, new terms viz teacher grade 2 and teacher grade 3 were coined for this lot of teachers after the two parties reached a consensus. First RT, then SSA and now grade 2 / grade three put this teaching fraternity to severe humiliation and stress. These teachers are undoubtedly at par with general line teachers, in terms of academic and professional qualifications yet they are ridiculed as inferior to their colleagues and peers. Yes, teachers with B.Ed or M.Ed degrees got the tag of teacher grade 2 and teachers with D.Ed got the tag of teacher grade 3. This nomenclature segregated these teachers further. The terms grade 2 and grade 3 has broken the wings of these teachers. They often feel humiliated and embarrassed to be called as grade 2 or grade 3 teachers. I don’t think that such maltreatment will motivate them to give their best. A teacher without professional degree viz B.Ed is undoubtedly unprofessional. The term grade 2 should have been used for all such teachers.
This segregation of teachers has led to a class war which is proving detrimental to the growth of our academic standards. It has given an undue privilege to a particular teaching fraternity. This step motherly treatment is pernicious for our schools and elementary education. If teachers possess same degrees, experiences and skills, receive salaries from the same exchequer; then why to promote disparity and class-division among them? It is never going to do any good to our academic standards. It will lead to superiority and inferiority complexes in different teacher categories. Many teachers consider themselves the owners of our school education department because they are enjoying a particular tag of nomenclature. The class-division is promoting disharmony and bad work culture in our schools.
The recent order of IMPACT training has widened the gulf between the different teacher cadres. A particular section is feeling alienated and maltreated. While as the other is feeling privileged and blue-eyed. This is not the end of the story. Even there are Rehbari-Taleem teachers who are exempted from this maltreatment. State RRTs, third teachers and others are considered proficient, professional and skilled while as SSA borne teachers are considered unprofessional though they possess the required qualifications and skills. Very recently, a grade 2 teacher said that he and his friend were recruited in the same school, on a same date, via same order number. But, ironically, his friend is not subjected to this maltreatment because he had managed to adjust himself in the state. He received all the benefits of seventh pay commission and he is not counted as grade 2 teacher though he is possessing academic qualifications at par with his grade 2 teacher friend. If two teachers have been recruited via same procedure and criterion, then why is one among them treated well while as the other is maltreated?
This segregation and class-division will lead us to destruction and devastation. It will deteriorate our educational system unconsciously and unnoticeably. If the incumbent administration is seriously mulling to better the educational standards and scenario in Jammu and Kashmir, then different cadres and categories of teachers, within the school education department must be abolished. It will remove certain tags, biases and disparities which are halting our educational progress. Let there be a single cadre of teachers. No particular group or community should be maltreated or humiliated in the name of nomenclature. Let us hope that the concerned authorities will take appropriate and necessary steps to bring all the teachers of Jammu and Kashmir under one cadre.
(Author is a Teacher and a Columnist)
mushtaqhurra143@gmail.com