‘Teachers paid better but learning outcomes poor’: Govt to link promotions with performance

Srinagar:   Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to revamp the entire education system and instill a culture of accountability for better results by linking schools’ performance with the promotion and career prospects of the teachers.

 “Government teachers get 10 times better wages/ incentives/infrastructure but isn’t it true that teaching-learning outcomes are better in 3000 elementary private schools vis-a-vis 29000 government schools; teachers and government need to work together to improve the QUALITY of school education in JKUT,” Principal Secretary to government, School Education Department, Asgar Hassan Samoon tweeted on Saturday.

Later speaking to The Kashmir Monitor, Samoon said that they will review the performance of every teacher and link their promotion with the performance of their respective school.

“We will make teaching-learning process more students friendly. Promote sports both indoor and outdoor at elementary levels. Teachers who are not interested in teaching can be redeployed in co-curricular activities,” Samoon said.

He noted that they will strengthen DIETs and SIEs, introduce newer subjects and vocational courses and improve curriculum and co-curricular activities and upgrade school infrastructure in terms of information technology.

“All positive suggestions from teachers, students, parents, and educationists shall be considered to improve quality. The priority of the present government is to continue the process of improving schools,” Samoon added.

Private schools have always provided better results than government schools in the board examinations.

For instance take the six-year data on the performance of 10th class students of government schools.

In 2019, the pass percentage of Class X was 62.97 percent compared to 86.2 percent in private schools.

In 2018, the pass percentage of government schools was 64 in matric exam.  In 2017, the pass percentage in government schools was 46 compared to 83 in private schools.

Likewise in 2016, the pass percentage of government schools was slightly better at 74% compared to 91% by private schools. However, in 2017 the pass percentage in government schools dropped to 46 while private schools recorded 83% success.