Mokokchung, July 23 : A tense situation flared up on Saturday between the management of Edith Douglas Higher Secondary School (EDHSS) and its students’ parents when the former did not show up to attend a joint meeting called by parents and students to deliberate over the school terminating two teachers who allegedly ‘failed to attend the morning devotion service.’
After giving prior information to the school’s authority for the joint meeting on July 22 by the parents, the management did not show up ‘even after waiting for the whole day’. The rebuff reportedly hurt the sentiments of the parents and sparked resentment even to the point of demands to shut school. Fortunately, the situation was brought under control.
“The awkward incidents happen when six teachers of the EDHSS were served caution letters to write an apology letter with a bond that if they fail to attend the next devotional service then they would be terminated from their service, which was to be submitted on before July 22,” said Imlipenla, who received the termination letter from the school administrator.
However two of the teachers, including her and a mathematics teacher were given termination letters on July 19 and 20 respectively, she said. She added that the devotional service of the teachers starts at 8:15 before the school assembly; the class hours start from 9:00 am and conclude at 2:50 pm. After hearing about the news the next day, the students also approached the school’s administrator to clarify the reasons why the teachers were terminated.
A senior student said “on July 21 the students gathered and approached the school administrator (proprietor) with letter appended seeking the reason why the teachers were terminated. However, their letter was not accepted and queries were not answered.”
“Later the principal called the students to the courtyard and then called up the three school captains to his chamber. He said it is not a students’ matter. The mathematics teacher got government job and other reasons against the teachers. We were also threatened that we (would) be given Transfer certificate (TC),” the senior student disclosed.
“Next day hoping for normal classes we went to the school but we came to know about the truth behind the cause of the termination and principal reason were all lies we could not bear it and started to agitate,” the senior student said. “Our only demand is we want our teachers to be reinstated,” the students said.
After deliberating the matter during the meeting at Salangtem Community Hall, the parents have served a memorandum to the principal of the EDHSS. The memorandum to the management stated (given verbatim):
“This is to put forward your esteem authority that, all the parents of Edith Douglas Higher Secondary School (EDHSS) after thorough deliberation in the meeting held on 23 July 2016 demand. To reinstate the two teachers namely Mr Imlimeren (and) Miss Imlibenla into their active duties from Monday i.e., 25 July 2016. Further, parents meeting comprising of administrator, principal and teaching staff within 3 days. Thereafter, falling to which the concern parents of the school shall take its own course of action. Failure to comply the authority shall bear all the consequences.”
