Students and village organisations seal GHSS Sungro in Wokha, demanding immediate appointments to fill prolonged teaching and non-teaching vacancies
WOKHA — Students and community organisations of Sungro Range in Wokha district on Monday launched an indefinite agitation and sealed Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS), Sungro, over the prolonged shortage of teaching and non-teaching staff.
The agitation was spearheaded by student bodies and village councils of the range, with representatives from Pangti, Okotso, Sungro, Old and New Aree, Yanthamo and Asha villages participating in the protest.
Addressing the gathering, President of Pangti Village Students’ Union (PVSU), Bonao Lotha, and other leaders expressed disappointment over what they described as the government’s neglect and “stepmotherly” treatment of the school.
They stated that several teaching posts had remained vacant since teachers either retired or passed away in 2022, with no replacements appointed.
Language teacher posts have reportedly remained vacant since then, while the school is also functioning without a physical education teacher and a lower division assistant (LDA).
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The student bodies further alleged that the shortage had been compounded by teachers proceeding on maternity leave without substitute teachers being deployed. In the lower section, they said, only one mathematics teacher was currently managing classes after another teacher was transferred without a replacement.
The organisations said they had repeatedly submitted representations and grievances to the concerned department, but their demands had not been addressed, apart from verbal assurances.
They recalled that after an ultimatum was served, officials had reportedly assured them that the staffing issue would be resolved. However, they said a recent order issued on October 29 failed to provide any teacher to GHSS Sungro, prompting them to launch the indefinite agitation and seal the institution.
The students said they had been pursuing their studies without a language teacher since 2022 and had also faced a shortage of teachers for environmental education and other subjects. Due to the lack of adequate teaching staff, they alleged that they were often compelled to sit for examinations without completing their syllabuses.
Questioning the department’s continued inaction, the students demanded immediate intervention and suggested academic consideration for subjects in which teachers had not been available. The joint organisations maintained that the agitation would continue until the department provided a written assurance and posted the required staff.
“Even during normal academic sessions, the school has been operating with severe teacher shortages, and in some subjects there are no teachers at all.
Therefore, the closure of the school during the agitation makes little difference to the academic situation already prevailing,” Bonao Lotha said, adding that students had no alternative despite examinations approaching.
Penthungo, secretary of Okotso Village Development Board (VDB), appealed to the authorities to address what he described as a genuine concern, stating that students were the future of society and neglecting their education could have serious consequences. Meanwhile, Zanbemo W Kithan, chairman of Pangti Village Council, said the issue had been raised on several occasions. He pointed out that GHSS Sungro served as a hub institution for the range and had one of the highest enrolments in the district after GHSS Wokha.
He said the school had historically recorded good enrolment and academic performance but alleged that the government had failed to provide adequate staff. He also claimed that some government schools with lower enrolment had sufficient teachers, while GHSS Sungro continued to face shortages.
The joint organisations reiterated that the school would remain sealed and the agitation continue until their demands were met through written assurance and the posting of adequate teaching and non-teaching staff.