162 vacancies in backward area
Our Correspondent
Kohima | February 26
Nagaland State Minister for Higher and Technical Education Temjen Imna Along today informed that the State Government has appointed a total of 209 teachers during 2018-19 under different categories in the State's Department of School Education.
Replying to a starred question raised by opposition MLA Muthingnyuba Sangtam at the ongoing assembly session, the Minister said 32 Primary Teachers were appointed on adhoc and need basis during 2018-19 (April 1, 2018, till date); 85 Graduate Teachers (GT) for Mathematics and 52 GT for Science were appointed through open interview on September 18, 2018; three GT and 37 PT appointed on compassionate scheme on July 6, 2018, and August 14, 2018. He assured the House that none of those appointments were made through backdoor.
On the vacancy in backward areas, Along informed that there were 162 vacant teachers' posts remaining unfilled. He explained that these vacancies could not be filled due to non-availability of trained or qualified candidates, but some cases are under process for consideration on need basis.
Raising a supplementary question, MLA Sangtam asked if the State Government planned to extend the 10 years relaxation period to candidates from backward area which expired in January 2019 with regard to fulfilling the four years criteria for getting proper training. Supplementing this, senior NPF MLA Yitachu pointed out that one of reasons eastern Nagaland areas lacked trained teachers against so many vacancies is that there is no institute to train teachers and he questioned if the government would address this, taking into account the fate of students who would again be deprived more when the available teachers leave for training in other districts. Also MLA Thongwang Konyak voiced his concern over the removal of sanctioned teachers’ posts along with removal of "proxy/bogus appointees" and emphasized that the government should streamline this exercise and retain sanctioned posts.
To these observations and queries, Minister Along said the Department would take the matters into consideration.
Meanwhile, responding to a question posed by MLA Kezhienyi Khalo, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said there are 496 graduate teachers and 1464 primary teachers under the Department of School Education who are pending regularization.
