Amid teacher shortage, student bodies and others demand faculty for GHSS Sungro and warn of agitation if posts remain vacant by October 15.
DIMAPUR — Several student bodies, village councils and GBs have demanded the immediate filling of vacant teaching posts at the Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS) Sungro, warning that they would resort to democratic agitation, including shutting down the institution, if the Department of School Education fails to make necessary arrangements by October 15.
In an ultimatum addressed to the principal director of the Department of School Education, the organisations stated that GHSS Sungro in Wokha district is facing a severe shortage of teachers and requires immediate intervention from the department.
According to the ultimatum, GHSS Sungro has been facing difficulties in managing the school for several years due to a severe shortage of teaching staff. It stated that students were not receiving quality education as vacant posts arising from retirement, death and transfer of teachers had not been filled and relievers had not been provided.
It stated that the school has a total enrolment of 184 students from classes 6 to 12 and is the only higher secondary school in the Sungro circle, which consists of seven villages. It further claimed that GHSS Sungro has the second-highest enrolment after GHSS Wokha town.
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The organisations stated that the school has been functioning without a Language teacher since 2022, a carpenter instructor since 2019, a knitting instructor since 2023 and a Physical Education teacher since January 2026, while the post of postgraduate teacher (PGT) for Alternative English is vacant.
They claimed that the situation violates Sections 25 and 26 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.
On September 10, the Pangti Village Students’ Union, Sungro Town Students’ Union, Okotso Village Students’ Union, Aree Old Students’ Union, Aree New Students’ Union, Pangti Village Council Chairman, Pangti GBs, Okotso Village Council Chairman, Okotso GBs, Sungro Town Head GB, Aree Old Village Council Chairman and Aree New Village Council Chairman, along with the principal and teaching staff of GHSS Sungro, held a consultative meeting over the shortage of teachers.
Following discussions on the grievances of the teaching staff, they sought the appointment of a Language teacher, a carpenter instructor, a knitting instructor, a Physical Education teacher, a PGT for Alternative English, two primary teachers, two high school teachers and two PGTs.
The signatories requested the department to examine the situation at GHSS Sungro and initiate necessary action at the earliest in the interest of the students.
They further stated that the Lotha and English syllabuses in the higher classes had not yet been started due to the failure to fill the respective vacant posts.
Pointing out that the second phase of examinations is scheduled for November, the signatories warned that they would resort to democratic agitation, including shutting down the institution, if the department fails to initiate necessary action or arrangements to address the shortage of teachers on or before October 15.
They stated that the department's continued inaction over the shortage of teachers had become intolerable.