Nagaland government college teachers issue charter of demands; asks NPSC to halt recruitment

The teachers’ association warned of resorting to democratic means of agitation if their demands are not fulfilled.

Dimapur, March 20 (EMN): The All Nagaland Government College Teachers’ Association (ANGCTA) has issued a charter of demands, including timely placement of teachers and recruitment through Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC), which it said will serve justice to the in-service teachers as well as help impart quality education.

In its “final representation” to the minister of Higher and Technical Education, the ANGCTA lamented that the authority didn’t pay heed to its grievance for years and warned of resorting to “democratic means of agitation” if its demands are not fulfilled.

The association stated in its three-point charter of demand that teachers’ placement is ‘time bound’ like other services according to University Grant Commission (UGC) rule but teachers in the state have been deprived of this “right” for years. It has, therefore, urged the authority to implement it without delay.

Stating that ‘Higher Education’s Service Rule is a guidance for vibrant professionalism, ethical conduct and deliverer of justice to the employees’, it has asked the department to approve the government-constituted committee draft and implement it.

“ANGCTA stands for direct recruitment of teachers through NPSC. However, with the time lapses in requisition and conduct of examinations and flaws in recruitment policy and regularisation of some members, ANGCTA seeks that the Government should take a stand on this issue and work on a mechanism to solve this long standing problem once and for all. The Association reiterates the stand that contractual appointment should be avoided in any case and let all appointment be via the proper recruitment process,” read one of the demands.

Halt recruitment of assistant professors

In another representation addressed to the secretary of NPSC, the ANGCTA has requested to put the recruitment of assistant professors under the department of Higher Education on hold, pending approval of the Nagaland Higher Education Service Rule.

It stated that the government of Nagaland had constituted a review committee to look into the discrepancies in the present Nagaland Higher Education Service Rule 2015.

“The Committee has submitted its report incorporating the shortfalls, amendment/changes in the criteria of recruitment policy of Assistant Professor including that of the UGC Regulation June 2018. The approval of the authority is expected anytime from now,” read the representation.

It said the “advertisement of common educational services examination”, particularly the post of assistant professors, before the approval of the Nagaland Higher Education Service Rule is a matter of concern.

However, it clarified that “this representation does in no way disturb the other recruitment of posts which can be proceeded as scheduled by NPSC other than ‘the Assistant Professors post’”.