Staff Reporter
Dimapur, May 15
The All Nagaland School Teachers Association (ANSTA) has called for total bifurcation of higher secondary from secondary and elementary education. In a representation submitted to the Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Nagaland Department of School Education, SCERT & HTE, Nagaland, ANSTA stated that the department of School Education is the most important department because of the fact that it ‘transforms the crude human being into civilized being for the welfare of society’.
The association stated that a peaceful mind, healthy working environment and well-coordination among the staff is needed to shape and mould the destiny of future generation, but, it said “as far as the present restructuring order of the department is concerned both cadres of secondary and higher secondary section are not satisfied with post distribution in the said notification.” Therefore, in order to avert grudge and discontentment between the two cadres on post classification, the association had submitted several representations to Government so as to promote peaceful working environment for both the cadre employees, however, inspite of repeated request for betterment of the department, Government remain unresponsive to the plea, it added.
Justifying the demand for bifurcation of higher secondary from secondary and elementary education, ANSTA said ‘since entry point is different, the higher secondary teachers always have advantage in matter of promotion and the present arrangement appears to be deceptive for graduate teachers if common seniority is maintained at the joint director level.
The representation signed by the office bearers of ANSTA stated that the pace of promotion is too disproportionate in matter of promotional avenues. When measured, 26-27 years of service of graduate teacher are made equivalent to 8 year’s service of PGT, the association added.
While stating that the management of the two different cadres under the same school has a practical problem, the ANSTA stated, in most of the Higher Secondary Schools, the Heads are found inclined to pay more attention to Higher Secondary side which is reflected in the academic results of the two sections where HSSLC result is comparatively far better than HSLC result. Taking into consideration the academic session of higher secondary and high school, School co-curricular activities cannot be conducted together at the proper time/season which has an adverse impact on smooth functioning of the school as a whole, it maintained.The association also put forth work load as another point of justification for the bifurcation of higher secondary from secondary and elementary education. It stated, even though both GT and PGT are working under the same institution, the work load of PGT is much lighter than that of GT which, it added, ‘gradually diminishes the professional zeal/enthusiasm of the secondary teachers’.
The association also stated that since the cadre, the seniority and entry point of secondary and higher secondary employees are entirely different, the two cadres have to function separately.
ANSTA, meanwhile, has also clarified that demands mentioned in no way serve the special interest of any section of the employees but it is for the common interest of all stake holders keeping in view the norm, practicability and smooth sailing of the entire school education machinery in the State. It also called upon the concerned authority to address the issue on priority basis as ‘it is an urgent need of the department for its overall improvement’.
