Nagaland has around 11,000 excess govt. teachers: Sukhalu

October 17, 2020 122 Views No Comment

Correspondent KOHIMA, OCT 16 (NPN) : Advisor School Education, KT Sukhalu, Friday said that there was an excess of around 11,000 government teachers in the state against the existing 20,000 teachers inclusive of SSA and RMSA teachers.

Speaking as special guest at the “HSLC & HSSLC Naga Toppers’ felicitation programme 2020” for students from Nagaland and Manipur, organized by Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) at RCEMPA Hall Jotsoma here, Sukhalu pointed that since the national average of student-teacher ratio was 32:1, the actual requirement of teachers was 9000.

He also asserted that there was a general perception among families in the state that sending their children to private schools was better.

Advisor said that with the increase in enrolment in private school over the years, the enrolment in government schools has dropped to 1,69,548.

In spite of government teachers being well qualified and trained, Sukhalu said that government teachers did not seem to inspire parents and children including their own children to study in government schools. “We need to seriously ponder over this matter, either to close down schools that do not have any enrolment (both in urban and rural areas) or merge schools that have low enrolment; and if student enrolment continues to drop, how do we reduce the number of government teachers?” Sukhalu said.

In this regard, the advisor urged NSF and ENSF to focus more on the education and welfare of the students and to ensure that teachers were doing their job and “not indulging in other activities keeping their proxies”.

Referring to the ongoing NSF and ENSF protest over the issue of SSA and RMSA teachers, the advisor thanked the two federations for showing their respect to former Minister late CM Chang by suspending their agitation till October 18.

At the same time, Sukhalu appealed to all the stakeholders especially both the federations and affiliate members to reconsider their proposed agitation that was proposed to begin from October 19.

He said that the government has already agreed in principle to mainstream the SSA and RMSA teachers of 2010 and 2013 batches in October 2018. However, advisor said that the process required a massive exercise by the department, which he said was still continuing.

Sukhalu said that such exercise, which was painstaking task and take time, was further delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic. He, however, asserted that the state government would continue to work to bring the matter to a logical conclusion, where justice would not be denied.

With pandemic situation prevailing in the state and spike in COVID-19 cases, he said it was not the right time to be agitating.

In view of the circumstances, Sukhalu said that the government cannot give a time frame for implementing the proposal.

However, he assured that the decision of the government would be implemented.

Advisor encouraged the HSLC and HSSLC toppers to inculcate the habit of reading. He also handed over presentation to felicitate the toppers.

NSF secretary education, Kegwayhun Tep, informed that there were 61 Naga toppers, five from Manipur, while 39 were present for the felicitation programme.

Imlibenla Jamir, HSLC Top 3 (NBSE) and Raphael Sanglai, HSSLC, Top 6 Arts (COHSEM) delivered speeches on behalf of the toppers.

NSF president, Ninoto Awomi delivered the presidential address.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/nagaland-has-around-11-000-excess-govt-teachers-sukhalu/223310.html