Around 21,000 teachers from 2,069 schools across the state would go on a three-day mass casual, from May 24-26, as part of phase-I agitation jointly called by All Nagaland School Teachers’ Association (ANSTA) and Nagaland Secondary Schools Field Officers’ Federation (NSSFOF).
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, ANSTA general secretary, Visato Koso, and NSSFOF secretary, Kevitsiano Luho, said the decision was taken consequent upon the expiry of a 20-day ultimatum served on the government for total bifurcation of secondary/elementary from higher secondary education.
They informed that in phase-II agitation, there would be total cease work starting from June 1 till their genuine demands were fulfilled.
The decision was taken to show displeasure over the unresponsive nature of the government, they said.
Stating that bifurcation of elementary/secondary from higher secondary education would promote smooth functioning and efficient management of the department towards quality and systematic education in the state, the associations said they had been demanding for bifurcation of the department for the past 13 years.
Highlighting distinct differences for which establishment cannot be shared between elementary/secondary and higher secondary, the association stated that there was different entry point, different cadre, different seniority list, different promotional channel, different academic session and transfer certificate (TC) was issued to class –X passed students to join higher secondary even under the same roof.
Informing that they had submitted a “road map of bifurcation” on Friday last, the association said the aggrieved teachers would be satisfied even if government initiated “paper bifurcation”.
Demands contrary to govt policy, says F.P. Solo: Commissioner and secretary school education and SCERT, F.P. Solo has said that ANSTA and NSSFOF’s bifurcation demand was contrary to the recent rationalisation exercise of the school education department for composite school.
He told Nagaland Post that the exercise of composite school was to bring primary school, middle school and high school under one institution so that there would be more students and teachers. He said it has already been carried out in some schools.
Solo informed said that some of the 12 points justification for bifurcation given by ANSTA and NSSFOF was valid. However, he said if it was not in larger interest of the students and goal of quality education, government would give a second thought.
He said during a meeting with the association on May 18, the department had requested for more time as 20 days was too short, considering department’s inability to solely take decision for bifurcation as it involved higher level decision.
Maintaining that the matter has not been kept in cold storage, he said meetings had been held with chief secretary, minister school education and officers of school education to discuss the demands.
Solo, however, said that on examination it was found that demands were not reasonable and not in interest of education.
Meanwhile, commissioner and secretary cautioned that the government would take its own course of action against the teachers for abstaining from duty.