Backdoor hires, missing ads, 65 unqualified appointees among 397
The All Nagaland Pre-Service Teachers’ Association (ANPSTA) has alleged that the School Education department has not conducted any open recruitment for primary teachers in the state for the past 10 years, while appointments through “backdoor channels” have continued unchecked.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday at Hotel Japfü, Kohima, ANPSTA president Hitova I Murrumi, general secretary Chalievi-l Dahou, senior advisors Hiyelo Jemu and Bendang Mollier, and vice president Virakhoto said they had submitted a representation to the School Education department two weeks ago requesting requisition of 1,168 vacant posts to the Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB), but received no response.
The association said trained teachers have been waiting for a decade, yet no advertisement has been issued in the public domain, calling it “a time bomb for the future generation.”
Discrepancies Highlighted by ANPSTA
· According to RTI replies, 401 primary teachers were recruited from 2016 till date; after excluding repeated names, the total stood at 397.
· District-wise recruitment includes: Kohima (34), Dimapur (64), Chümoukedima (22), Niuland (22), Zunheboto (59), Mokokchung (35), Tseminyu (2), Peren (9), Wokha (41), Phek (22), Meluri (6), Shamator (6), Tuensang (12), Noklak (7), Kiphire (7), Longleng (7), Mon (42).
·Only two public advertisements could be produced — GPS Totok Chingnyu ‘A’ (Mon) on September 25, 2020, and GPS Phiro-B village (Wokha) on July 7, 2021. Remaining 395 appointments lack evidence of public notice.
· 65 appointees lacked required teacher qualifications, including 10 with PU, 35 with BA, 9 with MA, 1 with BSc, 1 matriculate, 1 substitute teacher, and 4 with unspecified qualifications.
· One candidate was appointed as primary teacher in two different places.
· Discrepancies were noted in RTI responses, with names missing or inconsistent across lists.
· Department figures show 9,337 primary teachers in 2022-23 and 9,626 in 2023-24 (increase of 289), without open recruitment.
ANPSTA stressed that appointments appear to be influenced by politics rather than merit. They warned that allowing unqualified backdoor appointees to teach could cripple the education system and called for citizen support in opposing such practices.
The association has now submitted a memorandum to the Principal Director of School Education reiterating the demand for immediate release of 1,168 primary teacher posts and fair recruitment through NSSB. President Hitova I Murrumi said the association would wait three weeks for a response before submitting an ultimatum and considering further democratic action.
