The Ao Kaketshir Mungdang (AKM) has urged the Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung to intervene in the prolonged closure of Government High School Longkhum, which has remained shut since February 27, 2026, affecting the education of over 50 students.
In a representation submitted to the district administration, the student body said the closure, arising from a dispute over the appointment of fourth grade staff, has severely disrupted academic activities and placed students in a difficult situation.
It stated that the continued shutdown of the institution has brought learning to a standstill and jeopardized the academic future of those enrolled.
AKM appealed for immediate steps to facilitate a fair and amicable resolution among stakeholders and to ensure the reopening of the school at the earliest.
Students forced into makeshift classrooms
In a separate update, AKM highlighted the conditions under which students are currently attending classes. With the high school non-functional, classes are being conducted in inadequate settings, including at a teacher’s residence, with some sessions reportedly held in a kitchen. It stated that such arrangements are not conducive to effective learning and raise concerns over the quality and dignity of education.
Attempts to shift classes to a nearby primary school have also failed, as the classrooms are too small to accommodate high school students, leading to overcrowding and discomfort.
“This situation has severely disrupted the academic atmosphere and is causing immense hardship for the students, who are being denied their right to a proper and structured education,” AKM said in the update.
Background of dispute
As reported by this newspaper earlier, the closure of GHS Longkhum stems from a dispute raised by landowners, who claim that the land for the school was donated in 1961 by members of the Longchar and Yar clans with an understanding that fourth grade posts would be allotted to members of the landowning families. According to a representative, the arrangement continued until 2023, when the existing staff retired.
The landowners had sought appointment of their nominees to the vacant posts. However, the government initiated an open recruitment process. Following this, the landowners issued an ultimatum demanding appointments within 15 days, failing which they halted the functioning of the school.