Lecturer Recruitment in J&K — As open merit posts slide to 41%, aspirants raise questions about educational quality

11 December 2024

Srinagar: The recently announced lecturer vacancies in Jammu & Kashmir’s Education Department have sparked concerns among aspirants about fairness and the future of public education.

A group of aspirants who reached out to Ziraat Times said that out of a total of 575 posts, 337 positions (nearly 59%) are reserved for various categories, leaving only 238 positions (41%) for open merit (OM).

The aspirants maintain that while they aggree that some degree of affirmative action may be justified for uplifting disadvantaged communities, the extent of reservations in this instance raises critical questions about meritocracy and the quality of education.

The numbers: A closer look

The aspirants say that the breakup of the 575 posts shows an overwhelming allocation to reserved categories, including:

Reserved Backward Areas (RBA): 53 positions
Scheduled Castes (SC): 51 positions
Scheduled Tribes (ST): 117 positions (ST-1 and ST-2 combined)
Other Backward Classes (OBC): 42 positions
Economically Weaker Section (EWS): 48 positions
ALC/IB (Areas along the Line of Control/International Border): 26 positions

“This leaves less than half the opportunities for candidates competing under open merit. Such an imbalance raises legitimate concerns about the ability to attract the best educators to a system already plagued by declining standards”, said Aliya Nazir, who plans to apply for the posts.

Educationists are also weighing the impact of this policy practice on public education in J&K.

“The disproportionate reservation undermines the principle of meritocracy, which is crucial for appointing qualified and competent lecturers. Education is the backbone of any society, and prioritizing merit is essential to ensure the delivery of high-quality education to students”, said Sanjay Razdan, a senior educationist.

Sandeep Khajuria, another senior educationist, believes that many aspirants competing under open merit from Jammu regiom perceive such policies as unfair, adding that this resentment, in turn, would discourage the brightest minds from considering teaching positions in public institutions.

“Overemphasis on reservations risks compromising the overall caliber of educators. With education in Jammu & Kashmir already lagging behind national standards, this policy could exacerbate the issue, depriving students of the quality education they deserve”, said Manjeet Singh, another aspirant from Srinagar.

Former educationists who spoke to Ziraat Times on the matter said that talented individuals sidelined by excessive reservation policies may seek opportunities outside the state, resulting in a brain drain that could further weakens J&K’s academic infrastructure.

“Affirmative action policies aim to bridge gaps and promote inclusivity. However, when taken to extremes, they can inadvertently harm the very system they intend to improve”, said Prof Fida Nazir.

Education, being a critical sector, requires a delicate balance between equity and excellence, he added.

A skewed reservation policy risks undermining this balance, leaving public education systems ill-equipped to meet modern challenges, he said.

Aspirants planning to compete for these lecturer posts say that a more balanced approach is needed, ensuring that reservations do not overshadow meritocracy, especially in sectors like education, where quality is paramount.

While inclusivity is essential for a just society, the focus must shift from short-term visual gains to building a robust education system that prioritizes merit, equity, and excellence, Sandeep Khajuria further said.