DIMAPUR, MAY 31 (MExN): The All Nagaland School Teachers Association (ANSTA) and the Nagaland Secondary Schools Field Officers’ Federation (NSSFOF) have decided to undertake an indefinite total cease work protest starting June 1.
The cease work protest is part of the two organization’s 2nd phase agitation against the State Government’s failure to address the issue of total bifurcation of Elementary / Secondary from the Higher Secondary sections.
A press note from the two organizations informed all concerned members to “strictly comply with the directive for effective implementation of the agitation.”
Meanwhile, the ANSTA and the NSSFOF have reacted strongly to the Nagaland Education Minister’s response to the issue.
They asked the Minister to explain how “bifurcation is against the interest of the students.” They stated that “tussle in the schools between the two sections” has impact upon the students as “there is no peaceful environment in the school.” The organisations further pointed out that the demand for bifurcation would not affect the Composite School Policy, provided the village communities have accepted the policy.
Refuting claims that their demand would entail wasteful expenditure, the ANSTA and NSSFOF informed that they have provided an expenditure free bifurcation notification model on the request of the Commissioner and Secretary.
“As committed by us to wait for the Government in respect of separate infrastructure and appointment of ministerial staff for higher secondary establishments in the state, we will stand by our commitment,” they added.
The organisations then stated that “milder approach as in the form of assignment distribution was demanded but not done properly.” Demands for rectification, they claimed were in vain, thereby accelerating the situation.
They added that the organisations have studied the feasibility of bifurcation before making their demands. They however lamented that the Minister’s “parochial attitude on his part is the problem to concede to any demand as it is.”
“We have no trust of any commitment now and have no second option,” they said. The organisations then alleged that the Minister had given “different promises to different associations” attempting to allegedly “divide and rule the department...”
The ANSTA and the NSSFOF said that the multiple problems in the department including the practice of randomly establishing schools are “the creation of the Government.”
NGPTA and ANGPTA ask members to refrain from agitation
The Nagaland Government Primary Teachers Association (NGPTA) and the All Nagaland Graduate Primary Teachers’ Association (ANGPTA) have appealed to its members to “abstain from the second phase of ANSTA/NSSFOF agitation.” A joint statement issued by NGPTA President, Heikieleung Zeliang; General Secretary, Kezhalesa Kin; ANGPTA Vice-President, James Ruokuoselhou and General Secretary, Hoshika H. Sumi asked members to refrain from agitating “for the sake of students who are undergoing assessment and compartmental exam on humanitarian ground.”
