Moa Jamir
Of late, the issue of teacher transfers within the Department of School Education (DoSE) has garnered significant attention in Nagaland. Several organisations and student bodies have voiced out against such transfers, claiming they disadvantage certain schools.
Among others, student bodies like the Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU), Zeliang Students’ Union (ZLSU), Mangkolemba Town Students’ Union (MTSU), Chessore Town Students’ Union (CTSU), Changsang Range Students' Union (CRSU), and stakeholders of Government High School (GHS) Yangpi have highlighted their concerns in the media.
A quick perusal of these reports reveals common themes, including charges of "sudden and unjustified moves" and "ill-conceived and discriminatory decisions," carried out as a part of a rationalisation process undertaken by the DoSE.
One of the most significant concerns raised by these entities is the practice of "transfers without replacement," as alleged in their media releases. This is quite surprising, considering the DoSE advisor, Dr Kekhrielhoulie Yhome, stated during a consultative meeting with student bodies like the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) and the Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) in February had clarified there would be no "transfers with post."
Another DoSE official reportedly noted at the meeting that while the department faces various challenges, including legacy issues, excess schools, and a shortage of subject teachers and expressed hope that the rationalisation exercise would address some of these issues. However, the concerns raised by various stakeholders suggest that it may be exacerbating the problem.
The department has also acknowledged a severe shortage of teachers, particularly in subjects like Mathematics, Science, and Hindi as pressing issues in the state's education sector. To address this shortfall, Dr Yhome then stated that the department plans to conduct "extensive recruitment" efforts, including sourcing teachers from outside the state if necessary. However, there seems to be little progress so far.
It's important to note that "rationalisation," which involves redeploying or reshuffling teachers based on the needs of schools regardless of location, is not new and has been buzzword even in 2022. Previous concerns also centered on "transfers with post" or "without replacement."
At present, the issue highlighted by the Chessore Town Students’ Union (CTSU) is particularly unfortunate. According to the union, GHS Chessore has been without Mathematics and Science teachers since 2015, which it attributed to the school's persistent zero pass percentage in Class-X exams over the years. The union claims to have brought this issue to the attention of relevant authorities multiple times without much success. If true, it raises questions about the effectiveness of the rationalisation processes implemented so far.
The DoSE has so far maintained a stoic silence on this issue, which is not helping its cause. Without official clarification, speculation and mistrust fill the void. A crucial question that remains unanswered is whether teachers are replaced when they are transferred, as should be the case. While the department is not expected to address every individual concern, it is imperative for the DoSE to provide clear and transparent explanation of the overarching transfer policies and the rationale behind them to the public at large. This will go a long way in informing the public and restoring confidence in the system.
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