EN DESK Nagaland

11,000 excess teachers in Nagaland says Adviser

There is an excess of around 11,000 Government appointed teachers in the state against the existing 20,000 teachers, inclusive of SSA and RMSA teachers, said K T Sukhalu, Nagaland Adviser for School Education.

Speaking as Special Guest at the “HSLC & HSSLC Naga Toppers’ felicitation programme 2020” for students from Nagaland and Manipur, organized by Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) at Regional Centre of Excellence for Music & Performing Arts (RCEMPA) Hall at Jotsoma in Kohima yesterday, Sukhalu pointed out that since the national average of student-teacher ratio was 32:1, the actual requirement of teachers was 9000.

He appealed to the Naga Students Federation (NSF) and the Eastern Naga Students Federation (ENSF) to reconsider their proposed agitation from October 19. While reminding the gathering that the Government has already agreed in principle to mainstream the SSA & RMSA teachers of 2010 and 13 batches in October 2018, Sukhalu stressed that the task is not as simple as signing a piece of paper.

He asserted that there was a general perception among families in the state that sending their children to private schools was better. He said that with the increase in enrolment in private school over the years, the enrolment in Government schools has dropped to 1, 69, 548. In spite of Government teachers being well qualified and trained, Sukhalu said that Government teachers did not seem to inspire parents and children including their own children to study in government schools. “We need to seriously ponder over this matter, either to close down schools that do not have any enrolment (both in urban and rural areas) or merge schools that have low enrolment and if student enrolment continues to drop, how do we reduce the number of government teachers?” Sukhalu said.

Acknowledging the efforts of the toppers, NSF President, Ninoto Awomi also congratulated the parents for instilling the right vision and discipline in the minds of the students. Awomi expressed hope that their achievement bears great testimony of their future ahead. While Naga society has produced many degree holders, and brilliant students, Awomi stated that unless these achievements are used for the betterment of society, it will be just another degree. “Become the best version of yourself,” he advised.