Newmai News Network Aizawl | June 18 The Mizoram Government Lumpsum Grant-in-Aid Higher Secondary School Association (MIGLAHSSA) has launched an indefinite strike from Monday demanding adhoc status. There are nine such institutions in Mizoram which have been monitored and manned by villages out of public contribution for more than 14 years. MIGLAHSSA secretary, R Lalfakawma said they had made several appeals to the State Government to upgrade the schools to adhoc status but to no avail. He also said that leaders of MIGLAHSSA recently met State Education minister, H Rohluna, who told them that the State Government was not in a position to upgrade the schools due to financial constraint. "But the minister promised to look into the matter once the financial position is stable," stated R Lalfakawma. He further said that the indefinite closure of nine schools is launched in protest against the "government’s negligence". According to R Lalfakawma , all the nine Lumpsum Grant-in-Aid schools namely Phullen Higher Secondary School (HSS), Farkawn HSS, N.E Khawdungsei HSS, E.Lungdar HSS, Thingsulthliah HSS, Tuisualral HSS, Zobawk HSS, West Phaileng HSS and Zawlnuam HSS were established around and before 2004. The schools have been looked after by villagers under the managing board for around 14 years, the MIGLAHSSA leader added. R Lalfakawma then said that the strike has affected at least 850 students in the nine schools, He also said that it was well supported by villagers, all NGOs, student bodies and political parties. Earlier on June 7, the nine schools under the aegis of MIGLAHSSA had staged a 'demand day' or 'non-teaching day' to register protest against the government's alleged failure to upgrade the schools.
