Nagaland government's move to transfer teachers hits hurdle; process to continue says advisor

KOHIMA: Nagaland’s advisor for school education Kekhrielhoulie Yhome has said the ongoing process of transfers of teachers will continue despite opposition from various quarters. He, however, assured that exceptional cases would be handled with a sensitive approach. Earlier this month, the Nagaland Department of School Education ordered the transfer and posting of at least 1,650 teachers.

On February 6, the department issued a notification for the re-deployment of 278 mathematics and science graduate teachers. Additionally, on February 10 it notified the transfer and posting of 840 primary teachers, 341 graduate teachers, and 191 graduate and undergraduate Hindi teachers as part of the rationalisation process in government schools across the state.

Interacting with PTI on the sidelines of an Event at Mengujuma village here on Saturday, Yhome, who is also an MLA in the state assembly, said that rationalisation is a process aimed at balancing teacher distribution, where teachers are reassigned from schools with surpluses to those with shortages, especially in rural and underserved areas.

"We are committed to fairness in our approach, and while we understand the personal struggles of our teachers, the ultimate goal is to ensure that our students, in both rural and urban areas, receive the best possible education," Yhome, the advisor for school education and also State Council of Educational Research & Training (SCERT), said.

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'Teachers prefer posting in urban areas'

He also admitted that though the process is simple in theory, it has faced hurdles due to personal challenges the teachers face, including health issues, family responsibilities, and the desire to stay closer to their home areas. "There are teachers who are seriously sick, some terminally ill and others are caring for sick relatives. Some may never be able to return to their schools again," Yhome said, explaining the humanitarian side of the issue.

Speaking on the opposition faced by the government after the issue of the notifications on rationalisation, Yhome said that many teachers prefer to be posted in more accessible urban areas, leaving remote villages under-staffed. Following the rationalisation notification, various student bodies have also expressed serious concern and opposed the process saying it is irrational and unjustified.

According to the student bodies, it would have far-reaching implications for the entire state. The student bodies, while asserting that they support the rationalisation policy, charged the department saying that this time the process has been done randomly without any groundwork, statistical reports and without consulting the district authorities.

The advisor, however, acknowledged that the process is cumbersome and some teachers are not fully equipped to handle such changes swiftly. "It’s going to take time to resolve these issues," he explained. Despite the difficulties, resistance and opposition, Yhome assured that the rationalisation process would continue as planned, with the "department revisiting cases where specific concerns or exceptional issues arise".

"We're not here to disrupt the lives of our teachers, but to help our students receive the best education possible, regardless of whether they live in urban or rural areas," the Yhome asserted.