Tobu Area Students’ Union (TASU) has expressed serious concern over the plight of the people under Tobu sub-division, who were facing grievances due to severe shortage of teachers in government schools and insufficient medical staff.
In a press note , TASU president Chongo Konyak described the situation in the sub-division as “critical” and said that the quality of education and healthcare services have been “significantly” affected, leaving thousands of families in distress.
TASU expressed its disappointment at the department of school education (DoSE) for overlooking the concerns raised by the student community regarding the shortage of teachers. The union said that even after repeated letters submitted to the responsible, majority of the schools were facing shortage of subject teachers.
Stating that condition of government schools under Tobu area was dire, TASU said that GHS Bumei has four teaching faculty members, GMS Shamnyu-A and GPS-Shinnyu were being managed by two teachers for many years.
TASU questioned how such a small number of educators could control the classrooms situation and ensure effective learning. TASU also maintained that recent rationalization order on teachers has adversely hampered some of the schools in Tobu area. It said the affected schools including GHS Bumei, GMS Changlangshu-C, GPS Yongkhao-B, GPS Wangshu Changle and GPS Changlangshu-B were without relievers.
The union has also appealed to the health department to deploy adequate medical staff in all the health centres under Tobu sub-division. TASU said that shortage of medical officers, technicians, nurses and other staff has adversely affected healthcare services in the region.
It said that department had been transferring staff to other districts without any replacements.
The union said that untold hardships faced by common people due to poor healthcare system has forced the general public to attend medical care outside the region putting the lives of patients at risk. Further, TASU said that X-Ray Machine and Ultra Sound Machine have been “kept safely” at CHC Tobu for more than 10 years as there was no technicians to operate.
In the light of the above, TASU has appealed to the responsible departments to look into the matter for the smooth functioning of the system.
Meanwhile, the union has urged all the HoDs of government departments under Tobu sub-division to remain at their respective posting place from first week of March 2025. Failing which, TASU said the civil society organisations would take disciplinary action against the erring officers and staff.