Kohima, September 18: The Nagaland government has decided to reinstate 33 teachers to eastern districts, reversing their recent transfers under the teacher rationalisation policy, following protests launched by the Eastern Nagaland Students’ Federation (ENSF).
The decision was taken at an emergency meeting chaired by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Wednesday after widespread agitation in Mon, Tuensang, Kiphire, Longleng, Noklak, and Shamator districts, where the ENSF had ordered closure of schools and offices earlier this week.
Officials said the School Education Department reported that the eastern districts currently have 606 government schools, 45,174 students, and 4,733 teachers, with a favourable pupil-teacher ratio of 10:1 as per UDISE 2024-25. However, the August 2025 rationalisation exercise had inadvertently caused a deficit of key subject teachers in the region.
To address the crisis, the government approved reversion of 33 teachers to their original postings, along with plans to reassign Maths, Science, and Hindi teachers from other districts to eastern Nagaland. Newly recruited Maths and Science teachers will also be directly posted to schools in the six districts facing acute shortages. Additionally, vacant posts may be converted into priority subject positions and advertised afresh to attract qualified candidates.
As an interim measure, the department has been tasked with exploring community engagement of teachers, while consultations with local representatives and district administrations will be held to make the rationalisation process more region-sensitive.
The ENSF, which had warned of intensifying its agitation from Thursday, has suspended its protests after the state government invited it for talks on September 20. The student body said it would engage in dialogue to seek long-term solutions but warned that the stir could resume if the commitments are not fulfilled.
