ANGPTA resents DoSE’s retaliatory policy

The All Nagaland Government Primary Teachers’ Association (ANGPTA) has raised strong objections to the Directorate of School Education’s (DoSE) recent directive enforcing a “no work, no pay” policy from February 1, 2026.
This was contained in a representation addressed to the principal director DoSE by ANGPTA president James Ruokuoselhou, general secretary Along Changkiri, vice president (admin) Hoshika H Sumi, and joint secretary Joseph Keneisetou Belho.
ANGPTA also criticized the order as unfair, poorly timed, and disconnected from ground realities. The association emphasized that it has never resorted to agitation and has consistently supported measures promoting attendance and discipline. However, they said, the new office order (No. ED/ADMN/MISC/1/2023/265) has caused deep concern among teachers. While acknowledging the importance of accountability, ANGPTA highlighted serious doubts about the directive’s fairness, intent, and practical implications.
Punishment without proper physical verification: The order mandates enforcement from February 1, 2026, based solely on digital attendance data, without any mention of physical verification or field inquiries. This is deeply unsettling for teachers whose livelihoods depend on their monthly salaries.
Selective administrative urgency: The directorate has acted swiftly to implement salary cuts, yet similar urgency has been absent in resolving long-pending teacher-related issues, such as regularization of adhoc teachers, salary backlogs for CSS Hindi teachers, delayed payments under SSA and RMSA, pending arrears, and administrative delays in service matters.
This disparity has created a perception that punitive measures were being prioritized over addressing systemic grievances.
Faulty digital system: Attendance monitoring primarily depends on the TAMS SMILE App, which teachers have repeatedly reported as faulty. Common issues include technical glitches preventing marking, failure to sync entries with the central server, malfunctioning or freezing tablets provided by the department, and persistent data inconsistencies despite correct attendance recording. Many complaints lodged with the TAMS branch remain unresolved.
ANGPTA raised the following:
Network and infra: Inconsistent internet connectivity, particularly in rural and interior schools. In many locations, internet connectivity is weak or unstable, data synchronization frequently fails and attendance application becomes unusable during network disruptions.
Ignoring these ground realities while relying solely on digital records for salary deductions reflects a lack of practical understanding of the conditions under which teachers work.
Timing concerns: The enforcement began in February 2026—the same month when teachers statewide voiced grievances through protests over longstanding administrative issues. This coincidence has led to suspicions that the policy may be intended to discourage legitimate expressions of concern rather than purely enforce discipline.
Dialogue and reform: ANGPTA emphasised that a robust education system cannot thrive on fear or coercion but must be built on trust, mutual respect, and open communication between administrators and teachers. The association urged the department to prioritize fixing technical flaws in the attendance system, resolving pending issues, and engaging meaningfully with the teaching community.
ANGPTA reaffirmed teachers’ dedication despite challenges, urging fairness, accountability, and respect, while appealing to DoSE to reconsider “no work, no pay” and address underlying systemic issues.