Advisor for School Education, Dr Kekhrielhoulie Yhome has expressed concern over the continued closure of Government High School (GHS) Longkhum in Mokokchung district, which has remained shut since February 27 following a dispute between landowners and school authorities over the appointment of a Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS).
Responding to concerns raised by the Longkhum Students’ Union, Dr Yhome acknowledged that the school has been non-functional for nearly two months, affecting over 50 students who have been left without classroom learning. He questioned the current status and response of the concerned department in resolving the issue.
Explaining the broader context, Dr Yhome stated that education, once a state subject, became part of the Concurrent List after 1976, allowing both the Centre and the state to share responsibility. He noted that Nagaland, formed as the 16th state of the Union of India, initially received significant financial support from the Centre, but such assistance reduced after subsequent Finance Commissions, creating challenges for the state’s education sector.
He further highlighted that many schools in Nagaland, including GHS Longkhum, were established through community contributions, particularly land donations. In return, certain benefits such as Grade-IV appointments were reportedly extended to landowners. However, he clarified that such arrangements cannot be made permanent.
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According to Dr Yhome, the current dispute stems from demands by landowners to make these appointments a permanent entitlement, which led to the closure of the school. He stated that the government has limited options if the community chooses not to reopen the institution.
“If the village decides they do not need the school, we have no choice but to withdraw our teachers, as they cannot remain idle,” he said, adding that the situation is being viewed from an economic and administrative perspective.
The Advisor also revealed that the government is considering relocating the school to Alichen, a more accessible location along the main road, where it could serve a larger number of villages. He emphasized that while the closure has undoubtedly affected students, efforts are being made to ensure that their education is not disrupted in the long term.
The issue continues to remain unresolved, with students bearing the brunt of the standoff between stakeholders.
