A dearth of teachers in rural areas has pushed the Jammu and Kashmir government to engage candidates on academic arrangements by giving them 30 percent extra emoluments than is paid to teachers in other areas, said Education Minister Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari. 

Addressing students at the annual gathering of the All Ladakh Students Welfare Association Jammu (ALSWAJ) day, Bukhari said. However, he said the government has set a target to fill all vacancies of assistant professors, lecturers and teachers in the next six months.

Bukhari on Friday reaffirmed the resolve of the government to fill gaps in the education sector and work towards consolidation of infrastructure and teaching staff in rural districts, including Ladakh region. The minister also announced that the government had approved a degree college for Drass to meet a long-standing demand of the locals.