The Jammu and Kashmir government has directed educational institutions to ensure attendance of teaching staff in a bid to overcome loss of students due to curfew and frequent strikes in the valley.

"The deputy commissioners have been asked to constitute monitoring squads at district and zonal levels to monitor attendance of teachers. The directors concerned will also monitor and check the attendance of teaching staff," a circular issued by the education department stated.

It also said that those going on leaves without consent shall immediately be placed under suspension by chief education officers and those with highest qualification in the area shall be appointed for smooth conduct of the classes.

The teachers suspended during the course shall not be reinstated except with prior approval of the government, it added.

Also, the heads of the institutions shall cover syllabus and make up for slippage in the academic schedule, the circular said.