Srinagar, Feb 17: The examination authorities in south Kashmir have engaged staff of private schools for examination duty as the concerned Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) and school heads have not provided adequate staff for the assignment.

In the wake of this, the Chief Education Officer (CEO) Anantnag has issued circular instructions to all the ZEOs and heads of the schools to provide the necessary supervisory staff wherever the need arises.

“It has come to the notice that some centre superintendents are utilising the teachers from private institutions as supervisors, with the pretext that the ZEOs and HoIs are not providing the said staff for the purpose,” reads a circular issued by CEO Anantnag.

It reads that the practice shall not be entertained henceforth.

“All the HoIs and ZEOs are put under the instructions to provide the necessary supervisory staff wherever the need arises,” the circular reads.

The issue has come to the fore at a time when the School Education Department (SED) earlier asked all the teachers of high and Higher secondary schools to remain present at their respective district headquarters given the annual board exams for classes 10th to 12th.

“The teaching staff of the government high and higher secondary schools shall remain available at respective headquarters from February 10 of 2025 onwards for preparatory arrangements for the ensuing Board Examination of class 10th to 12th,” reads the winter vacation order issued by the education department.

Also, the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) earlier constituted a coordination cell for the smooth conduct of the annual examination of classes 10th to 12th.

“The cell shall be responsible for coordinating with the line departments including JKBOSE, district administration and Police as per the requirement. They shall also furnish consolidated reports daily immediately after completion of the examination, besides reporting any issue which requires intervention at a higher level,” an official document reads.