Dimapur, May 15 (MExN): Senior government officials, technocrats and civil society on Wednesday pondered over a number of issues confronting the current state of education and the system in Nagaland.
An “interactive session” was convened by the department of School Education May 13 in Kohima to discuss issues stated to be “concerning improvement of the quality of education in the State, against the present backdrop of bogus and illegal appointment of teachers”. Aside from the senior state officials of the state government, representatives of major professional and Naga civil society organizations attended the session.
The interaction covered issues relating to hurdles impeding the progress of quality education in the state and remedial measures required. The Special Investigation Team under the Vigilance Commission probing the large number of reported cases of bogus and illegal appointments of teachers in the department of School Education and the reasons for delay in release of salaries for teachers during the last three months, were also discussed.
Following a day-long deliberation, the session undertook a number of resolutions. The session advised civil society to actively assist and cooperate with the Special Investigation Team in investigating the suspected cases of bogus and excess teachers under the School Education. The threats issued by some leaders of the Naga factional groups to the Chief Secretary, the Additional Chief Secretary and the head of the SIT were condemned. The UG organizations under whose name the threats were issued should formally and publicly withdraw the threats, the resolution stated.
It was also recommended that the state government activate immediate termination of all bogus and excess teachers, teachers appointed fraudulently or without authority of the government. Criminal prosecution of all persons involved in the bogus appointments, including the appointees themselves should be prosecuted, the session recommended.
Likewise, government officials who are 'prima facie' found to be involved and responsible for such appointments should be awarded disciplinary action and criminal prosecution.
It was also strongly asserted that redeployment of teachers according to existing policy and norms of the Government should be carried out expeditiously and without any interference by any authority or organization. “This should include detachment of all teachers who are presently attached to non-teaching establishments. Those who fail to abide by the redeployment order (should be) be discharged from service,” the recommendations stated.
Further, all future recruitment of pre-primary and primary teachers should be done through district-level selection committees after proper selection process involving written test and interview. Complete ban is sought for appointment of substitute teachers.
The government is also suggested to conduct a study through a reliable agency to “find out the reasons for lack of community involvement in the management of government schools and for their poor performance vis-a-vis private schools and to suggest remedial measures”, it added.
