ENSF flags ANSTA’s move to join ‘pen down strike’

Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) has expressed strong objection to announcement made by All Nagaland School Teachers’ Association (ANSTA) to join the proposed pen-down strike called by state service associations from October 14-16, 2025.
In a press release, ENSF president Nuheymong Yimkhiung and education secretary Wangnyei Konyak stated that the federation after thorough deliberation found the proposed agitation as “irrelevant to the cause of the student community and detrimental to the broader educational interest of the Eastern jurisdiction, where academic advancement remains a collective and urgent priority.”
In this regard, ENSF has directed all educational institutions and teaching personnel within Eastern Nagaland not to observe or participate in the proposed strike.
ENSF said it had been consistently advocating against the disparities that have long crippled the education system in Eastern Nagaland. The federation, however, expressed regret that schools and teachers in particular were being directed to close down “due to the influence of certain individuals who appear to be exploiting the system.”
ENSF said that those individuals backed by an organisation that seemed “well versed with governmental processes” have remain silent and inactive while the federation, since inception, had consistently fought against systematic discrimination in the education system.
ENSF recalled that its recent agitation against the rationalization order issued by the Directorate of School Education (DoSE), was deemed unjust, discriminatory, and unfavourable to the interests of Eastern teachers and students.
Subsequently, ENSF said the agitation was temporarily suspended following the department’s decision to constitute a joint committee to review and work towards a fair, balanced, and rational framework.
In light of the ongoing process, ENSF said any form of strike at this juncture would only jeopardize the constructive engagement and divert attention from the core objectives of achieving educational justice and parity.
Further, ENSF said this period marks a critical academic phase as students were preparing for their final examinations. It maintained that any closure of schools or suspension of teaching activities would inflict irreparable academic setbacks.
The federation said it therefore considered the proposed strike as “untimely, unwise, and counterproductive” to the collective goal of enhancing the educational landscape of Eastern Nagaland.
Affirming its commitment to “fortifying the education system” and uplifting the standard of learning in the region, the federation has, therefore, appealed to all the teachers under Eastern jurisdiction to uphold the shared vision by ensuring normal academic functioning and by refraining from extending any cooperation to the proposed strike.
ENSF cautioned that any teacher under its jurisdiction defying its directive would be viewed with utmost seriousness.