During the discussion on the Motion of Thanks, Advisor Imkong L. Imchen, criticized the School Education Department’s teacher rationalization and redeployment policy, calling it detrimental to the education system. Imchen, who served as the School Education Minister from 2003 to 2008, argued that the current implementation was flawed and driven by bureaucratic language rather than practical reasoning.
He highlighted the challenges posed by Nagaland’s unique geographical and socio-political conditions, stating that policies designed for mainland India often fail to address the realities of hilly states like Nagaland. He accused the department of focusing excessively on teacher transfers rather than improving education quality, describing the mass transfer of teachers as disruptive and harmful to students.
Imchen questioned the department’s notification directing teachers to submit grievances through Sub-Divisional Education Officers (SDEOs), arguing that such decisions should involve elected assembly members. He cited specific instances of mismanagement, such as the transfer of five out of 11 teachers from a composite school in Aliba, and warned that such practices would weaken the education system.
Interacting with the media later, Imchen criticized the Principal Director of the School Education Department, stating that the focus should be on improving education quality rather than administrative reshuffling. He called for immediate corrective measures and urged the government to halt the rationalization exercise.
Advisor Dr. Kekhrie Yhome justifies need for educational reforms
Advisor for School Education, Dr. Kekhrie Yhome, emphasized the need for rationalizing teachers and strengthening government schools during the Motion of Thanks. He revealed that Nagaland has 1,925 schools, with 1,123 having low enrollment (1-25 students) and 157 reporting zero enrollment. As part of the rationalization drive, 1,650 teachers were transferred, including 1,073 identified as surplus. Additionally, 120 schools were closed through mergers, downgrades, or outright closures.
Dr. Yhome stressed the importance of maintaining a minimum staffing pattern of seven teachers per primary school and urged efforts to bring students back to government schools. He warned against the unregulated expansion of private schools, particularly those run by religious organizations, and announced stricter regulations ahead.
Highlighting the state’s tech-driven approach, Dr. Yhome stated that the introduction of the SMILE application, a real-time data system with geo-fencing monitors teacher attendance. He expressed hope that the 2025 Census would provide accurate data to support these reforms and restore trust in government education.
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Years of mismanagement has led to systemic issues: CM Rio
Meanwhile, concluding the motion of thanks, the Chief Minister acknowledged the challenges faced by the Department of School Education, particularly regarding teacher transfers and rationalization. While appreciating the department’s corrective measures, he admitted that years of mismanagement had led to systemic issues. He highlighted the acute shortage of qualified teachers in regions like the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization (ENPO) area, where some schools have single-digit enrolments or more teachers than students.
To address these issues, he announced plans to redeploy excess teachers and review transfer postings through a state-level committee and district-wise verification, in consultation with elected members. He emphasized the need for fairness and collective efforts to rectify past mistakes.The Chief Minister attributed many systemic issues, including those in education, to inaccuracies in census data. He recalled the controversial 2001 census, which reported an inflated population of 19.90 lakh and an unprecedented growth rate of 67%. The state government rejected these figures, and the 2011 census, conducted with the support of CSOs, tribal hohos, churches, and government officers, corrected the population to 19.79 lakh, reflecting a negative growth rate of -0.06%—the only state in India to report such a trend.
He stressed that Inflated census data had led to the establishment of excess schools and teachers, resulting in a skewed student-teacher ratio of 1:7, compared to the national average of 1:30. He expressed hope that biometric systems would ensure more accurate data in the future.
