Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has issued a directive to all its federating units and subordinate bodies to abstain from participating in the upcoming demonstration scheduled for April 21, (Monday) in support of the regularisation of 147 Assistant Professors under Higher Education department.
In a joint statement, NSD president Medovi Rhi and general secretary Chumben Murry, reiterated firm opposition to what was termed as “arbitrary regularisation” process. NSF said that the move violated the principles of transparency, fairness and meritocracy—core values that the NSF has consistently championed.
NSF pointed out that decision on regularization carried out under a one-time Cabinet dispensation, bypassed due recruitment procedures and implemented despite repeated appeals and representations made by the federation.
NSF described the decision as “gross miscarriage of justice” which threatens the prospects of thousands of deserving, qualified aspirants in the State.
It called for an immediate reversal of the Cabinet’s decision, and demanded that all sanctioned teaching posts be requisitioned to the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC). NSF said such a step was vital to restore faith in the recruitment system and to uphold the aspirations of deserving candidates.
It also cautioned constituent units that any participation in the April 21 demonstration would directly contradict the organizations’ official position and treated with utmost seriousness.
KSC to hold counter demonstration
Meanwhile opposed to NSF’s directive, Kohima Science College, Jotsoma, has issued instructions to its departments to mobilise students and faculty to participate in the April 21 demonstration in support of the regularised Assistant Professors.
In a circular, KSCJ principal Dr. Temjenwabang, directed Heads of Departments (HoDs) to ensure that members from their respective departments report to the college premises by 9 a.m. on Monday.
The demonstration has been described as a peaceful event to express solidarity with the Cabinet’s decision to regularise the services of assistant professors who had been serving under contractual or temporary terms.
The circular said in case any HoD was not in station, the responsibility must be delegated to another faculty member to oversee the mobilisation process.
The circular stated that the demonstration was aimed at acknowledging the Cabinet’s one-time decision to provide job security to long-serving teaching professionals across government colleges.
ANCSU appeals for rollback of absorption order, seeks stakeholder consultation
All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) has appealed to the state government to immediately roll back the absorption order dated December 18, 2024, under the Higher Education department, which pertains to the regularisation of 147 contractual teachers under Higher Education department.
In a memorandum to minister of Higher Education, ANCSU president Tenyesinlo Bukh and general secretary Kivinoka A. Sema acknowledged the contributions of the contractual teachers to the functioning of government colleges and the academic welfare of students.
However, the union expressed concern over the manner of their appointment, alleging it was in contravention of established rules and procedures. The move, the union noted, has triggered widespread dissatisfaction among aspirants seeking government teaching posts through regular recruitment channels.
Highlighting the union’s longstanding advocacy for strengthening higher education in the state, ANCSU said it had flagged the acute shortage of faculty in government colleges, particularly in the wake of the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) and the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUGP). Both reforms, the union pointed out, demand a significant increase in the number of qualified teaching staff.
The union stated that it had earlier submitted a representation on October 3, 2022, urging the government to create sanctioned posts and initiate proper recruitment processes.
It lamented that the prolonged engagement of contractual teachers—dating back to 2009—had led to a situation where nearly one-fifth of the total teaching strength in colleges now comprised non-regularised faculty, creating institutional dependency.
Citing the interests of students, job aspirants, and the academic sanctity of higher education institutions, the union called on the state government to rollback the absorption order and convene consultations with all concerned stakeholders. It urged that a mutually agreeable solution be reached that would uphold fairness and meritocracy.
“The union shall stand steadfast to deliver justice to the students and the aspirants at any cost, while ensuring the wellbeing of the colleges as well,” the memorandum stated. It also appealed to the government to treat the issue with urgency and fairness in the larger interest of all.