Mokokchung, 18 May (MTNews): Following the 9 May attachment order regarding the attachment of teachers to New Model Colleges in Mangkolemba and Wakching, the Mokokchung College of Teacher Education Students’ Union (MCTESU) in a letter to the Commissioner & Secretary, Higher Education Department has appealed to retain the Assistant Professors at Mokokchung College of Teacher Education, Yimyu.
According to MCTESU, the transfer on attachment of two Assistant Professors, Dr Rijingkhum Yimchunger and Mr Kerilhusa Peseyie is “a matter of great concern” and said that it is going to “adversely affect the wellbeing of the students of the college.”
“As a matter of fact, when the college is already understaffed, we are immensely disheartened by this order,” the MCTESU stated and highlighted the following urgent concerns:
* Our College has only 7 (seven) regular Teacher Educators and the attachment of the above mentioned Teacher Educators will lead to shortage of faculty which will not only affect the normal functioning of the college but will also lead to the de-recognition of our college for not fulfilling the NCTE norms where the minimum regular faculty for B.Ed College should be 7 (seven).* The College being a professional institution has both theory and practical courses where we are given rigorous practice and training in Internship, Final practice teaching and Viva Voce exam for Enhancing Professional Competencies in each semester. And with the minimal faculty, they are managing both Internal and External Examinations which is unlike the general courses as the Teacher Educators has to be distributed as External Examiners to various Teacher Education Institutions across the state, and whereas some have to cater to the External Examiners during the Final Teaching and Viva-Voce scheduled by the University from 30th May- 2nd June, 2023 and while the few remaining faculty have to manage the college and cater to the students’ needs as well. This speaks volume for the retention of the aforementioned Assistant Professors.* The nature of their appointment was done against the Post for Teacher Education Institution based on their qualification and not for General College. The qualifications of the two Assistant Professors are as follow:i. Dr Rijingkhum Yimchunger –Ph.D (Education), M.A (Education), M.Ed.ii. Mr. Kerilhusa Peseyie – M.Sc (Physics), M.Ed., NET (Education).And it cannot be assured that whoever replaces them in the near future may have the requisite qualifications required for a Teacher Education Institution.* Our College is also preparing for the NAAC Assessment next year, i.e. 2024 and with the attachment of the above two Assistant Professors, the College will be deprived of their expertise and experienced services in the preparation of NAAC Assessment which is mandatory for all the Colleges across the country.
MCTESU maintained that any displacement of teachers during the ongoing semester, irrespective of duration, is a serious impediment to the learning process of the students. “Sending away two teachers for a duration of six (6) months, which is an entire semester in an academic session, will have irreparable repercussions. We therefore dissent the order and would like to protest strongly against the transfer of our teachers haphazardly and hastily without any consideration of how it will affect the students,” MCTESU stated.
In this regard, MCTESU strongly opposed the government order and said that they instead need “recruitment of more teachers to strengthen the college and Education Ministry of the State in general rather than abruptly taking away the few which the college has in order to barely manage the College.”
