Headmasters’ arbitrary claim to school funds kicks up trouble

Now threats being sent to principals

EMN Dimapur, February 9 [dropcap]A[/dropcap] recent apparently illegal resolution by headmasters and assistant headmasters of various government higher secondary schools in Nagaland has created a controversy and apparent confusion in the education department and its allied functional agencies. The situation is such that SMS is being used to “caution” principles of institutions to keep off from the secondary sections in regard to funds, it was informed.The Nagaland Government Higher Secondary School Employees Association (NGHSSEA) issued a press release on Monday calling for workers of the education sector in Nagaland to think about the students first and not money. “The Nagaland Government Higher Secondary School Employees Association is constrained to issue this press release for public interest with regard to the three-point resolution adopted by the headmasters and assistant headmasters of 41 government higher secondary schools which have led to lot of confusions and disturbances in administration and functioning of many GHSS,” the organization stated. “The resolution stated that “’…..all funds such as admission fees, centrally sponsored schemes etc pertaining to secondary and elementary sections shall be handled by headmaster and AHM. The resolution number 3 stated for ‘strict compliance’ by headmasters and assistant headmasters of 41 government higher secondary schools,” the Nagaland Government Higher Secondary School Employees Association stated. “The NGHSSEA do not intend to interfere in the administrative rules of the department or the grievances of the HM under GHSS. However, the association is concerned with the misunderstanding and confusion created by the resolution. Following the resolution, many headmasters of government higher secondary schools have disturbed the admission process of elementary and secondary section under government higher secondary schools causing hardship and inconveniences to the students and parents,” the association pointed out in the press release. “Besides this resolution, some of the members claiming to be the convener of the ANSEAOA, ANSTA and ANSEAOA have sent SMS (phone number 8014179214) to a principal cautioning not to involve in secondary section of government higher secondary school,” the association disclosed. “In addition to this, a senior officer from the directorate of School Education called up the same principal to caution him and further impose the resolution. The NGHSSEA strongly feel that such interference and unwarranted directives would destabilize the school administration and the career of thousands of students spread across the state of Nagaland will be at stake.” The association has reminded the headmasters and assistant headmasters that the principal is the administrative head of government higher secondary school. He is responsible and accountable to the government for any commission and omission as far his/her official powers and functions are concerned, the association reminded the school headmasters. “As NBSE ‘General Rules’ clearly stated, all correspondences with the board is under the domain of the principal in any higher secondary school. The recent trend of issuing directives for strict compliance amount to violation of government authority by some government employees. The department of School Education should take note of such lapses within the department as it may tantamount to violation of the Nagaland Government Servants Conduct Rules-1968,” the association stated. Another issue that the organization raised was that the department of School Education cannot effort to “outsource its administrative powers and functions” to few employees. It would lead to chaos and confusion, the NGHSSEA reminded the headmasters. The association expressed the view that only the government was authorized to issue such directives. “It is unfortunate that the issue raised by some government servants is over ‘money’ collected from poor students during school admission and other funds that comes from the government. As Teacher/Educators, our focus should be on students to bring out better academic results of students and uplift the standard of education in the state.” “The NGHSSEA expresses appreciation to the department of School Education for bringing new initiatives such as the new staffing pattern which would greatly solve the problem of teacher shortage at government schools. School Education being the biggest department is also the department with many problems. The NGHSSEA feels that the timely initiative taken by the department to meet the new challenges and needs of the present times should be welcomed by all section of the department and Society, too much interference by different organization/associations on policy matters of the department may be counterproductive.” The education system will suffer and students will be at the receiving end if the anomalies are not curbed, the employees cautioned. “Nagaland states with large section of society who are economically weak are depending on government schools/institution for education. The NGHSSEA appeals to fellow Educators and Teachers to think for the welfare of the students.”