CM Neiphiu Rio. (File Photo)
• Says there are in fact 10,000 excess teachers
• Shortage in terms of math & science teachers
Our Correspondent
Kohima | November 25
Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio today said that there is no shortage of teachers in the state; however there is lack of availability of teachers for certain subjects.
“In Nagaland, we have a student/teacher ratio of 10 students to one teacher, whereas the national average is one teacher to 30 students. Therefore, our ratio is very good but subject teachers are not available, particularly in Mathematics and Science,” Rio said in reply to a question in the assembly session today.
The CM informed that there are, in fact, about 10,000 excess teachers in the state. Rio said that there are some schools with no enrollment but teachers are deployed, and in some schools there are more teachers than students. “That is how the issue has become a big problem,” he stated. He said that the government is presently undertaking an exercise to work towards redeployment of teachers. He sought the cooperation of the members of the House to work out means in addressing this issue.
MLA Yitachu said that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the students adversely, particularly those in rural areas.
Expressing concern over shortage of teachers in many primary schools in the state, Yitachu said that appointments should be taken up in the primary sector. He urged the government to fill up the vacancies of primary teachers, so that schools run with full strength by 2022.
Naga People’s Front (NPF) Legislature Party Leader, TR Zeliang meanwhile said that primary and high school education are crucial sectors that need attention. He suggested that the government discuss lifting the ban on appointments in the School Education Department. “There are about 30 to 40 teachers now retired from my area also, but no replacement has come,” he informed.
He said that many vacancies arise as retirements take place every year, and therefore urged the State Cabinet to discuss ways to fill up those vacancies. “Please consider this as a part of the most important agenda in the cabinet and lift the ban particularly for the School Education Department,” he said.
Earlier, replying to MLA Yitachu with regard to the list of Government Primary Schools (GPS) under Meluri sub-division, the Minister In Charge informed that there are 22 GPSs under SDEO Meluri with a total strength of 111 teachers and the Department of School Education is in the process of meeting the inadequacy through redeployment or through recruitment.
