Kiphire: USSC stage protest against transfer of teachers without relievers

August 9, 2023 52 Views No Comment

• Serves 7 day deadline to initiate necessary action
• At least 63 teachers transferred out along with post

DIMAPUR, AUGUST 9 (MExN): Under the aegis of the United Sangtam Students’ Conference (USSC), hundreds of students on Tuesday gathered at Deluxe Point in Kiphire town to stage a democratic agitation to protest against the transfer of several teachers with post from government schools and shortage of teachers thereof.

The USSC are alleging that since 2000 till date, around 63 teachers have been transferred out with post from government schools under Kiphire and Longkhim-Chare jurisdiction to other districts. According to documents furnished by USSC, out of the 63 teachers transferred with post from Kiphire & Longkhim-Chare, nearly 40 of them found re-posting destination in Dimapur, Chümoukedima and in Niuland area.

In a memorandum addressed to the Principal Director, Directorate of School Education, Kohima which was handed over to the Deputy Commissioner Kiphire on Tuesday, the USSC expressed dismay that the implementation of rationalization order has led to transfer of teachers from the Sangtam jurisdiction to other districts without providing relievers.

It also alleged that some teachers have informally attached themselves to influential figures such as VIPs including Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAS), District Education Officers (DEOs), Sun-Divisional Education Officers (SDEOs) and the Directorate of School Education.

The USSC lamented that the consequences of these decisions have already begun to manifest within its educational institutions, with the absence of qualified teachers and insufficient teaching staff gravely affecting the quality of education, and more critically, pushing students towards the brink of dropping out due to lack of proper guidance and mentorship.

This not only jeopardizes their academic future but also threatens the socio-economic progress of our community, it added.

While espousing belief that DoSE exists to serve the welfare and benefit of the student community, and such aforementioned exercises ought to be undertaken with utmost caution and consideration of their potential consequences, the USSC expressed consternation that the “current actions appear to contradict this principle and undermine the very essence of our education system.”

The USSC also sought to remind that after observing the developments in teacher transfers and unofficial attachments within the DoSE over the past 2-3 years; it had voiced concern through numerous representations on October 30, 2021, January 19, 2022 and June 8, 2023 which it said regrettably fell on deaf ears.

In light of this, the USSC said it was left with no option but to embark on a phased democratic mode of agitation which has commenced from August 8 onwards. It has therefore implored the DoSE to immediately cancel the transfer of teachers with post without relievers and ensure equitable distribution of teaching staff. To detach teachers from VIPs (MLA), DEO and SDEOs and deploy them to their designated place of posting and to deploy teachers in schools where there is shortage.

Setting a deadline of 7 days from the date of submission of the memorandum to initiate necessary action, the USSC sounded caution that in the event of failing to comply with their demands, it would escalate its peaceful agitation to a more extreme level, which will “disrupt the normal functioning of educational institutions and adversely impact the academic environment.”