As the protest by landowners of GMS Marepkong, which began on September 19, entered its sixth day, the School Education Department on Tuesday, 24 September, issued an order transferring two Grade-IV/MTS staff from GMS Marepkong and GMS Senkalemba to the Sr SDEO Office in Mokokchung. The staff has been asked to submit their joining reports by September 27, 2024.
Following this, regular classes at GMS Marepkong are expected to resume on Wednesday, September 25, which had remained shut since last Thursday, September 19 after it was locked down by the landowners.
The landowners had been protesting the alleged violation of a 1973 agreement, which stipulates that preference for employment in Grade III or IV positions be given to landowners if vacancies arise in the school. However, a notification from the Department of School Education on August 16, 2024, transferred a Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) member to GMS Marepkong, sparking the protests.
The landowners expressed satisfaction regarding the redeployment of the staff to Sr SDEO office stating that their demands have been met. Senti, the Head Teacher of GMS Marepkong, expressed that while there is a need for the MTS, resuming classes and resolving the issue for the welfare of the students was the priority.
When asked whether the school would support the creation of another MTS post, he said that if the right procedure is followed, and issues like the current one are avoided, the school would support the creation of a new post.
Regarding whether the Sr SDEO Office in Mokokchung needed the two MTS staff or why they were redeployed there, the SDEO of Mokokchung stated that the orders came from higher authorities, and therefore, he was not in a position to comment on the matter.
Attempts to contact senior officials, including the Principal Director, were unsuccessful.
Unanswered questions remain: Is this redeployment a temporary solution? Does the Sr SDEO Office Mokokchung need the two Grade-IV/MTS staff? Will new posts be created for the two schools from which the two Grade IV/MTS staff were redeployed to the Sr SDEO Office?