Findings from fifth phase of inspection reveal imbalance in staffing across 58 schools
The Ao Kaketshir Mungdang (AKM) has raised serious concerns over both the shortage and excess of Primary Teachers (PT) and Graduate Teachers (GT) in government schools under the Ongpangkong range, following a five-day inspection conducted from July 14 to 18, 2025.
The fifth phase of inspection and visitation, carried out under the jurisdiction of the Sub-Divisional Education Officer (SDEO), Ongpangkong, covered 58 schools. “The AKM would like to highlight the shortage as well as the excess of Primary Teachers (PT) and Graduate Teachers (GT) in the schools visited,” it said in a statement issued after the visit.
According to AKM, while some schools are grappling with a shortage of subject teachers, “almost all of them have excess teachers.” Head Teachers reportedly expressed the challenges they are facing due to this imbalance. “In one particular case, a teacher who was transferred to a new posting in an urban area was not accepted by the Head Teacher because that school already had excess staff,” the AKM observed, adding that “schools in rural areas are facing acute shortages, resulting in ineffective teaching and learning.”
Among the most pressing cases is that of GMS Aliba, where there has been “no Mathematics teacher for eight classrooms since 2016.” The AKM noted that “despite repeated requests by the School Management and Development Committee (SMDC) and the Village Council for the deployment of a new Mathematics teacher, the department has yet to respond.” Similarly, GMS Mokokchung Town is facing “a crisis due to the absence of an English teacher.”
Calling for urgent steps, the AKM has “appealed for immediate intervention to address these critical issues and ensure that all schools are adequately staffed, thereby ensuring equal opportunities and quality education in rural areas.”
The organization also urged a review of teacher deployment. “Some examples where a high school (classes A to 10) has 30 teaching staff, and a primary school (classes A to 5) has 16 teachers” were cited as signs of disproportionate staffing.
Out of the 58 schools inspected, “29 were found to have an excess number of teachers,” AKM stated.
Further, the student body emphasized the need for broader scrutiny. “The AKM emphasizes the need for a comprehensive inspection of all schools to assess the full extent of both teacher shortages and excesses and to initiate corrective measures without delay.”
It also informed that a detailed report will be issued at the end of the inspection process. “It will include the total number of teachers, student enrollment, teacher shortages, excess postings, and their related grievances, based on which necessary actions will be initiated,” the statement read.
Finally, AKM issued a strong warning against the use of unapproved teaching staff. “A stringent notice to all the schools that the AKM rejects the practice of employing substitute and proxy teachers and if caught the Office will impose strict consequences and disciplinary actions will be taken,” it warned.
