(Raja Sohail Khan, Assistant Direcctor Information)
Nation’s success secret is repercussion in education. When priority is education, success becomes destiny. Literacy rate of AJK has been always greater than any other province of Pakistan but quality of education has always been ignored and induction of teacher was always based on favoritism and nepotism. Innovation in educational system was not observed with the development in this era of globalization and system of education became static and lull. This not only raised questions on confidence building measures on education department but also effected prestige and dignity of the department as well.
When PMLN came into governance after the general elections in 2016, PM Raja Farooq Haider, according to his vision, focused on the betterment of education system and put this Endeavour in their priority. The first step in this regard was the implementation of Azad Jammu and Kashmir teachers recruitment policy 2017 after the approval made by cabinet. It was decided that recruitment of teachers will be made through National Testing Service NTS to de-politicize this recruitment system and induction can be possible on capability and merit. Education department made a Kashmir Education Assessment Centre to monitor NTS test and for proper co-ordination. The centre under the supervision of coordinator Javed Iqbal Khawaja accomplish this project with their hard work in mean time.NTS advertised 1266 vacancies of 7 different cadres of higher and secondary education; on which 36660 aspirants applied, 1358 applications were rejected due to incomplete form fillings. Meanwhile, in screening test; 32805 aspirants appeared and only 6323 aspirants got more than 55% marks; overall passing result was 19.27%.NTS sent the list of passing candidates to concerned department and later on after verification of documents and interview, appointment orders of newly inducted teachers has been issued. It was first time in history that a ceremony was held at Prime Minister house regarding oath of newly inducted teachers through NTS. PM AJK took oath from new teachers as per their service rules.
It is important to mention here that recruitment through NTS have transparent the merit system and build confidence of masses; youngsters are quite satisfied with this system. I personally observed that public seemed happy and satisfied about recruitment through NTS system. Recent placement of teacher consists of a number of those aspirants who were not favorites of any stake holder and did not ever dream about to be civil employee. These youngsters were thankful to PM AJK and Minister for Education on their this initiative which they started from Education department. Secretary education schools Irshad Ahmed Qureshi monitored the recruitment process right after the approval of recruitment policy till the oath of new teachers. I had a sitting with him and he was quite confident and vowed for the betterment of education system. He said that the next step after the recruitment of teachers is to train them in collaboration of Muslim Hands International.
This training will start from 16th October in which teachers would be trained according to present education system and innovation in this system; teachers will be trained about code of conduct, official ethics and other matters relevant to their profession. He said that 6 thousand teachers will be trained in first cycle under the aegis of British Council and training for 2 thousand head teachers will also be started to develop leadership qualities in them and enhance their capabilities. Special training which are already implemented in United Kingdom “Analytical Thinking & conceptual learning” will be held soon in AJ&K. This training will start from Halmat district Neelum and would be extended in whole AJK. Another training of “Early childhood education” in collaboration with UNICEF is already been started from 1st October to train 200 primary teachers, this training will continue till 31st December. Secretary education further said that transparency in induction will result in betterment of service and this will steer towards better quality education; this will also revolutionize the educational system in AJK. A special complaint cell is also made to file and monitor complains regarding NTS; if any aspirant have any kind of complain about this process can report to this cell.Secretary education also assured that if any aspirant being facilitated by any illegal mean then stern action will be taken against him and this kind of in justification will propitiated. He said that a PC-1 is in process to make sure the proper attendance of teachers and students in schools through bio-metric system. School cadre and administrative cadre will be separated in next phase, which will improve this system. Education system in AJK is now steered on a new and innovative way as per vision of Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan and endeavors of Minister for Education Barrister Iftikhar Gillani. Dignity and reputation of education department is rehabilitated. Government of PML-N has set a remarkable trend introducing new reforms in Education department; this will prove a baseline for the development of the State. I am fore sighting a developed state soon and we will be in row of those nations.
