Most Hindi teachers in Nagaland not qualified; Centre refuses to pay salaries

Our Reporter
Dimapur, Feb. 18 (EMN): Just days after the All Nagaland Hindi Teachers’ Union, Mon Unit, expressed dismay over non-payment of salaries for three months, Advisor of School Education K Tokugha Sukhalu on Friday clarified that the government of India has refused to release the fund as many Hindi teachers in the state don’t meet the required eligibility.

Sukhalu said this at a programme in Toluvi village over upgrading of Government Middle School to Government High School.

He said that the state had randomly appointed many teachers when thousands of Hindi teachers were sanctioned by the government of India, but now, as per the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) norm, only class 12th pass with a Hindi diploma are eligible for undergraduate Hindi teacher’s post.

But unfortunately, “most of our teachers are 10th pass, so the government of India refused to pay the salaries”, he stated.

He said that the state government is taking up the issue with the Finance department to release the fund from the state exchequer (not from the government of India), but “the finance department has clearly mentioned to ensure that Hindi teacher pass class 12 either from National Institute of Open Schooling or other schools and have a diploma in Hindi, and only then we will release the salaries”.

The advisor informed that the state government will soon advertise for recruitment of Hindi teachers for those who have passed class 12 and have a diploma in Hindi, and “once this is done, the issue about the Hindi teacher can be taken care of”.

More than 1.4 lakh govt. employees in state

Sukhalu maintained that as per the order given by high court, every appointment including Grade IV post has to go through interview, and therefore, “now the government is not in a position to create new post”.

He said that Nagaland has too many government employees with more than 1,40,000 of them for a small state with a population of around 20 lakh, which is the highest in any state in the country.

He reiterated that the court had issued an order in 2016 ruling that every post to be appointed should be done through an interview process and those who do not go through recruitment process are not eligible for salaries. He added that ‘we should thank the civil societies and student bodies for demanding Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB)’.

He informed that very soon, the state government will issue a notification on the working staff pattern of all the schools to ensure so that schools neither have access nor shortage of teachers.

He further ensured that if enrolment is good enough in the newly upgraded school, “we will definitely provide standard furniture to the school”. He, therefore, asked the teachers and village administrations to have sufficient number of students in the government schools.

He also urged the village authorities to support the teachers so that children can receive good education.

‘You give good foundation to the school and your children will make you proud one day,’ he concluded.

Apokla Longkumer, SDEO of Dhansiripar, in-charge SDEO and DEO Dimapur, said that upgrading Government Middle School to Governments High School in Toluvi is a dream come true for the people of the village and the adjoining areas, as the nearest government high school, GHSS at Purana Bazaar finds difficult to accommodate all children who seek admission due to a huge number of students from East Dimapur.

She informed that at present, there are seven government higher secondary schools and 24 government high schools, including the upgraded school in Toluvi.

Maintaining that new achievement and development comes with added responsibilities, she said the transition from GMS to GHS will require sincere efforts from the village council, school management, development committee, teachers and the community.

Bohoshe Awomi, Chairman of Toluvi Village Council, submitted a representation to the advisor of School Education, asking him to provide infrastructure, saying that the newly upgraded school doesn’t have enough classrooms.

“We fervently appeal to you for providing infrastructure and sanction building projects for classroom to the newly upgraded government high school, Toluvi village, Dimapur,” read the representation.