PEREN, FEBRUARY 18 (MExN): The Zeliang Students' Union (ZLSU) has expressed profound disappointment and concern regarding the Department of School Education’s (DoSE) recent rationalisation exercise.
In a press release, ZLSU media cell stated that the initiative which intended to optimize resource allocation have instead caused severe hardships for students and exacerbated inequities across schools in the district.
Voicing strong dissatisfaction with the teacher allocation, the Union pointed out that the exercise has led to significant disparities, with some schools having an excess of subject-specific teachers, while others faced critical shortages. Multiple institutions lacked even a single teacher in essential subjects, directly undermining students’ right to quality education.
The ZLSU also expressed shocked by administrative negligence. Citing an instance of a distressing oversight, it highlighted how a deceased teacher was erroneously assigned to one of the schools in the district, exposing systemic flaws in the DoSE’s data verification processes. This incident highlighted the exercise’s disconnect from ground realities, it underscored. Additionally, the abrupt transfer of five teachers from Peren district to other areas worsened the educator shortage, it also highlighted.
The Union emphasized that education should not be subject to rigid, poorly designed measures. It argued that the exercise, conducted without empathy or consultation, prioritized administrative convenience over the future of students. The policy, according to the ZLSU, served institutional egos rather than the public interest. It has therefore urged the department to engage with grassroots stakeholders to develop equitable solutions that addressed real needs instead of perpetuating disorder.
However, the ZLSU acknowledged that the DoSE had at least put its rationalization order on hold in the public's interest. The Union appealed to the concerned authorities to reconsider their decision, urging them to prioritize the needs of the student community over administrative efficiency or other motives. The ZLSU hoped that the order would eventually be completely revoked.
