DIMAPUR — The Mpai Students' Union (MSU) has come out in support of the ultimatum of the Zeliang Students' Union, Nagaland, to the Department of School Education (DoSE) and expressed deep anguish over the recent rationalisation exercise undertaken by the department.
The MSU noted in a letter to the principal director of school education that government schools under Peren district are plagued by an acute shortage of subject teachers, particularly in Mathematics and Science.
It called it “a grave mistake” to transfer subject teachers without deploying replacements, especially where the enrolment in schools is high and requires more subject teachers.
It mentioned that the enrolment at GMS Mpai this academic year is 125, yet the school is short of a language teacher and primary teachers. The school was currently operating with only one Science teacher, who has also been transferred to another school in the middle of the academic year, the union said.
“To lighten the burden of the school, the village authority has appointed three community teachers,” it mentioned, adding that the transfer is being done without any knowledge of SMC appointed for monitoring.
It went on to say that the shortage of teachers and disparity in the rationalisation process are causing hindrances in children's education in rural areas, which have demoralised the students.
The MSU said that it stands in solidarity with the Zeliang Students' Union, Nagaland, which is "fighting for parity, equality, and against the injustice done to the schools through the recent rationalisation”.
It said that the three-point charter of demands put forth by the Zeliang Students' Union, Nagaland, is genuine and appealed to the principal director to fulfil it for the sake of the students' future.