Chang students stick to their demands, warn of agitation

DIMAPUR: The Chang Wedoshi Setshang (Chang Students’ Conference) has asked the state government to cancel the work order for repairing of eight classrooms at GHSS Thangjam and divert the fund for construction of a new building, as the current school infrastructure has been temporary renovated under the 1st phase NECTAR programme.

In a rejoinder to the clarification issued by the Directorate of School Education (DoSE), the CWS reminded that the present GHSS Thangjam school building was built by ‘the then district administration as D.C’s garage’; three temporary class rooms were constructed in 2014 by ‘few likeminded administrative officers of Tuensang with support from RD department, after it was upgraded to a higher secondary school in the same year.

Only five classrooms were constructed under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) scheme during 2016-2017 since inception of the school, and so, the idea of repairing the 50 plus years old building is just wastage of public resources, it stated.

Expressing dissatisfaction over DoSE’s response on its demand to upgrade the GHS Hakushang to GHSS, the CWS demanded a written assurance from the concerned authority for the welfare of the student community.

The student body demanded that the PGT(s) immediately report to their respective places of posting as per the department’s recent notification, while reminding that none of them reported for work. It also said the department should post the requisite PGT(s) to the two GHSS in Tuensang after the recruitment process is completed.

The CWS went on to seek clarification from the School department in regard to a report by this newspaper (Eastern Mirror) in November last year that the state has a 17:1 ratio in the Secondary Level (Class 11-12), citing UDISE-2021-22 data. It said that GHSSs in Tuensang face acute shortage of teachers and classrooms.

The student body warned that it will start its second phase of agitation from June 14 if the department fails to fulfill its demands by June 13.