AKM, KSU and TASU term Edu Dept’s notice to transfer 1372 govt teachers as unjust
DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 13 (MExN): The Ao Students Conference (AKM), Kandi Students’ Union (KSU) and the Tobu Area Students’ Union (TASU) have raised serious concerns over the rationalisation of teachers in Nagaland, urging the Nagaland Government to take immediate action to rectify what they describe as unjust teacher rationalization.
In a notice issued on February 10, the Directorate of School Education announced the transfer and posting of 840 Primary Teachers, 341 Graduate Teachers and 191 GHT & UGHT with immediate effect. It stated that no TA/DA would be admissible; directed the teachers concerned to join their new place of posting within 7 days; said that no request for retention or reconsideration of posting would be entertained under any circumstances; and that salaries would be withheld for those who don't comply to the notice.
The AKM, while acknowledging the need for rationalization in the education sector, however stated that “the manner in which it has been executed raises serious questions about the preparedness and fairness of the process.”
It said that the recent rationalization process appears to have been carried out “without a well-structured plan.” This has resulted in confusion and disruptions in schools, particularly in rural areas where teachers are already scarce, it stated.
The AKM noted that teacher-student ratio in rural areas cannot be measured in the same manner as urban schools. “A single teacher managing multiple classes simultaneously is impractical and detrimental to the quality of education. Rationalization should take this reality into account rather than blindly applying a one-size-fits-all approach,” it added.
The AKM further advocated that the rationalization process should be conducted fairly and without political influence. Decisions regarding teacher placements should be based on academic needs rather than external pressures, it said.
It advised that teachers unwilling to serve in rural schools should be given prior warnings. “If they continue to refuse, voluntary retirement should be enforced to ensure that only committed educators remain in the system,” it said.
It observed that schools in urban areas, which have an excess number of teachers, should be prioritized in the rationalization process before affecting rural institutions already facing a shortage.
“The Department of School Education has turned the rationalization process into a mockery, lacking the seriousness and commitment it deserves,” it stated.
The KSU expressed strong support for the Department of School Education’s (DoSE) efforts to improve the education system, particularly through the rationalization and redeployment of teachers. However, the union alleged that the process has been imbalanced, disproportionately affecting certain schools while leaving others untouched despite having similar teacher-student ratios.
“There are seven areas/ranges in the district, out of which teachers from two areas/ranges in the district were drawn out and redeployed to certain areas only,” the KSU stated. The union, citing data obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, claimed that Kandi and Phenshunyu areas were disproportionately impacted. “The entire district rationalization is made up with maximum teachers drawn from these two areas,” the union asserted.
The KSU questioned the rationale behind why schools in some areas with comparable teacher-student ratios remained unaffected while others faced severe faculty shortages. Specifically, it pointed out that Government Middle School (GMS) Kandinu Upper lost six graduate teachers without receiving any replacements, while GMS Tesophenyu Upper and GMS Logwesunyu, with similar teacher-student ratios, received adequate replacements.
“This is a direct attack on the socio-economy of our people,” the KSU declared, urging the department to immediately redeploy teachers to GMS Kandinu Upper and ensure fair redistribution across the district.
Meanwhile, the TASU highlighted the severe shortage of teachers in government schools and inadequate medical staff in Tobu Sub-Division, a crisis it says has left thousands of families in distress.
The TASU criticized the DoSE for ignoring repeated appeals to address teacher shortages. “The majority of the schools are facing shortages of subject teachers, which is affecting the academic performance of the students,” it stated.
According to TASU, government schools in the area are struggling to function due to a lack of educators. “The condition of government schools under Tobu Area is in dire situation out of which GHS Bumei with four teaching faculties, GMS Shamnyu-A and GPS-Shinnyu is hardly managed by two teachers for quite many years,” the union noted. The overwhelming burden placed on these educators has made it difficult to maintain effective classroom management and ensure quality education, it added.
Adding to the challenges, the recent teacher rationalization order has further disrupted schools in Tobu Area. The union reported that GHS Bumei, GMS Changlangshu-C, GPS Yongkhao-B, GPS Wangshu Changle, and GPS Changlangshu-B were all impacted by the redeployment, losing teachers without receiving replacements.
On a separate note, the TASU also highlighted the dire state of healthcare in the region, stating that a lack of medical officers, technicians, nurses, and other essential staff has severely impacted patient care. The union accused the Department of Health and Family Welfare of transferring staff to other districts without replacements, worsening the situation.
“The untold hardships faced by the common people due to poor healthcare system has forced the general public to attend medical care outside the region, causing patients’ lives at risk with various challenges,” the union stated. TASU further revealed that essential diagnostic equipment, including an X-ray machine and an ultrasound machine at CHC Tobu, has been non-operational for over a decade due to the absence of trained technicians.
Furthermore, TASU issued a directive to all Heads of Departments (HoDs) under Tobu Sub-Division to be stationed at their respective postings from the first week of March 2025. “Failing which, the Civil Society Organisations will take disciplinary action against the erring officers and staff,” TASU warned.
