ENSF cautions against teacher transfers without relievers, cites staff shortage

Tuensang, September 15 (MExN): The Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) has cautioned all education officials and school authorities in the Eastern Nagaland jurisdiction against facilitating transfer of teachers without a proper reliever, citing an acute shortage of teaching staff in the region.

The ENSF Media Cell in a press release said it acknowledged and respected the Directorate of School Education’s Notification No.ED/PLN/RATIONALIZATION/2021 (Pt)/899 dated March 24, 2026, and clarified that it does not oppose or seek to interfere with the government’s policy decision “regulating the procedure and period for submission and processing of applications for transfer of teachers.”

However, the ENSF expressed “serious concern regarding the persistent and acute shortage of teachers in the schools falling under the Eastern Nagaland jurisdiction.” The Federation stated that it has repeatedly brought the matter to the notice of competent authorities and consistently pursued adequate and equitable deployment of teachers to safeguard the academic interests of students.

“In view of the prevailing shortage, the Federation cannot afford to permit further depletion of the existing teaching strength within the Eastern Nagaland jurisdiction,” it said.

The ENSF said it had come to its notice that certain individual teachers were seeking to take advantage of the notification by submitting transfer applications from Eastern Nagaland despite the existing shortage of teaching personnel.

Accordingly, the Federation called upon and cautioned all DEOs, Sr. SDEOs, SDEOs, Heads of Schools and SMCs under the Eastern Nagaland jurisdiction “not to recommend, forward or facilitate any application for transfer of a teacher from the jurisdiction without a proper reliever being made available, particularly where such transfer would adversely affect the existing teacher-student ratio or disrupt the academic functioning of the concerned institution.”

The respective federating units of the ENSF have been directed to maintain strict vigilance and monitor all cases of teacher transfer within their jurisdictions.

Clarifying its position, the Federation said the request was “not intended to undermine or obstruct the statutory authority of the Government or the competent departmental authorities in matters of transfer and posting,” but to ensure that implementation of the transfer policy does not further aggravate the existing shortage of teachers in Eastern Nagaland.

The notice may be treated as a formal caution and direction to all concerned to exercise “utmost prudence and responsibility” in dealing with teacher-transfer matters within the Eastern Nagaland jurisdiction, it said.

Any instance of forwarding, recommending or facilitating a transfer without a proper reliever, or in violation of the directives, shall be immediately reported to the Federation for appropriate action, it added.