Students in Tuensang face admission crisis; admission process in 2 government schools halted

DIMAPUR— The Chang Wedoshi Setshang (CWS), the apex student body of the Chang tribe, has halted the admission process for Class 11 in two government higher secondary schools in Tuensang town with effect from June 6, citing issues faced by students seeking admission.

A total of 780 HSLC-passed students had sought admission in two schools – Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS) Tuensang and GHSS Thangjam – against the intake capacity of 370, which has caused admission crisis, it said.

CWS vice president Langasomba told Eastern Mirror that the student body had submitted a memorandum to the principal director of School Education on Tuesday, highlighting the admission crisis in Tuensang.

In the memorandum, CWS (Chang Students’ Conference) pointed out that the two government secondary schools within Tuensang were not in a position to accommodate all the qualified students due to lack of classrooms as well as shortage of teachers.

“Having said so, the total number of students who filled up the admission forms this year (2023) in these two schools are 687 fresh candidates and 93 repeaters so far. Out of which only 370 students will be accommodate as per the intake capacity of the schools,” read the memorandum.

The union further reminded that it had earlier written to the principal director to upgrade the Government High School (GHS) Hakushang to GHSS, which was approved during the District Planning and Development Board meeting held on March 16 this year.

However, no positive response has been received on it so far, it stated.

Meanwhile, CWS in a press release reminded that the state’s recently declared HSLC results recorded a 70.32% pass percentage, out of which the pass percentage of government schools was 35% and private schools 79%.

This, the CWS said, is a significant improvement compared to 22% pass percentage registered by government schools and private schools 67% in HSLC 2022 results.

It went on to state that the increase in the number of students who passed the exam has led to a crisis with the two existing government higher secondary schools and the other two private institutions in the district unable to accommodate the students seeking admission.

The union also narrated the plight of a mother, whose son had passed the HSLC exam but couldn’t afford to admit him in private school, while students who scored better marks get admission in government schools.

“Theoretically, he passed but practically he failed if that’s the case, since he didn’t get admission,” the CWS quoted the mother as saying.

According to CWS president C Pongsu, the people of Tuensang face admission issue for admission to Class 11 every year.

He added that around 180 students could not get admission last year too, so the CWS constructed a new class room at GHSS Thangjam from its fund and accommodated 100 students while the remaining 80 students were accommodated at GHSS Tuensang.

‘The excess enrolment eventually affects the environment of the class room as well, and imparting of quality education is out of question. Not only that, three private teachers were appointed at GHSS Thangjam with the initiative of school authorities for the academic year 2022-23 with financial assistance from parents,’ updated CWS.

It further said that the union, school authorities and the community had highlighted these “activities and efforts” taken to the department and appraised the need for enhancing of teaching staff and setting up of more GHSS in Tuensang but no positive response from the department so far.

Sensing that temporary solution will not ease the problem faced by the people, CWS said it was compelled to take steps for the welfare of students of Tuensang district.

“Therefore, in light of the discrepancies, the conference halts the admissions process for Class 11 in those two schools from 6th June, 2023 until the department provide alternative arrangement to accommodate those students who filled up the admission forms,” CWS stated.