Correspondent
Kohima, March 11
THE normal functioning of government schools in the state has been affected for the second day today as the SSA teachers continued their agitation.
Meanwhile, Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), an apex students’ body in the state expressed serious concern over the non-payment of salary to 2730 SSA teachers, which has forced the SSA teachers to show their resentment in the form of agitation resulting in disruption of normal functioning of schools in all districts.
Concerned about the academic careers of the students, the NSF officials had a meeting with the officials of Department of School education (DoSE), Government of Nagaland and SSA today.
NSF education secretary Bangdi Chawang and assistant general secretary Christopher Ltu said that the Department officials apprised the NSF that it is expecting release of second installment of SSA funds within 2-3 weeks time from the Central Government.
Therefore, the federation urged upon the school education department to give time-bound assurance to the Nagaland SSA Teachers’ Association for the release of their pending salary and basing on which the NSSATA should also resume their normal classes in the interest of the students.
At this juncture, the NSF said blaming one department or the other for the delay in processing the SSA file in the MHRD or for the inability in releasing salary to the teachers is not going to solve this grievous problem. Therefore, it said the stake holders should put their heads together and clear the mess they themselves have created.
Whatever may be the reason, the concern department should solve the problem at the earliest, failing which the department should be answerable for spoiling the careers of thousands children, the NSF appealed.
The federation also urged upon the education department to expedite the exercise of mass re-deployment/rationalization process from this academic year since there are many schools running without the required number of teachers, particularly in remote areas.
