Don’t consider our lack of assertiveness as weakness: NGHSSEA

Nagaland Government Higher Secondary School Employees’ Association (NGHSSEA) has cautioned the State government not to consider its lack of assertiveness as weakness, reminding that it was the only officially-registered association and recognised by Personnel & Administrative Reforms (P&AR) Department.
Addressing the silver jubilee celebration of the association at Naithu Resort, Dimapur on Saturday, NGHSSEA president Karen Yepthomi said registration and recognition had been taken as collective responsibility to maintain cooperation and unity with the department heads and leaders, even as the association had many grievances that had not been addressed to. But, despite this, she pointed out that the association had never resorted to any agitation or the members neglected their official duties.
She said there were many instances where junior colleagues suddenly got double and triple promotions within a year or so after submitting their Annual Performance Assessment Report (APAR), adding that NGHSSEA members were faced with unpleasant situation of submitting their APARs to their juniors because the latter had become their seniors. However, Yepthomi mentioned that the association members had been swallowing the bitter pill of discontent as they had been put in a very embarrassing and awkward situation.
Though there were many anomalies in the system, she hoped that the State government, especially the department heads, would sort out the anomalies in the days ahead. She said NGHSSEA was hopeful that all the grievances of the employees would be prioritised as the last few years and the development in previous years’ service rules like downgrading the pay structure of PGTs was pretty demoralising.
She also noted that many political leaders and intellectuals traced their educational roots to government schools as these schools had a glorious reputation many decades ago.
Yepthomi also claimed that the government higher secondary schools (GHSS) were ushering in an era of educational revolution, while NGHSSEA was trying to bring back the former lost glory and reputation of government schools. But she lamented that their efforts and sincerity were never acknowledged.
She hoped that the recently upgraded eight GHSS would become functional by next academic session, adding that more such upgrades could be the only solution to improve results of government schools.
Yepthomi remarked that she was also hopeful that the State’s policymakers and department heads would take NGHSSEA’s contribution into account while initiating new measures and taking decisions.
She urged the association members to continue to be the strength of the department as they gave their services to God and man.