As the agitation by the RMSA 2016 Batch continues, the Department of School Education & SCERT has issued a statement titled ”Brief note on RMSA 2016 Batch” clarifying the government’s stance and detailing the history of the appointments under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) scheme.
“The Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) Scheme was launched in 2009-10 to enhance access to Secondary education and improve its quality,” the statement read. It explained that the Nagaland Education Mission Society (NEMS), the implementing society of RMSA in Nagaland, “had engaged Contractual Graduate Teachers on 9th February 2016 after agreeing to the terms and conditions as mandated by RMSA before issuing the engagement order.” It added that the written test for the appointments “was outsourced to SCERT.”
According to the department, “Bond Affidavit and Declaration Affidavit were signed in the presence of 1st Class Magistrate consenting to the contractual terms. The appointment is Co-terminus to the Scheme and their salary is fixed @ 31315.00 per month subject to release of fund from the Ministry of Education and Literacy, Government of India.”
The statement noted that in 2018-19, “the three Central flagship programme viz. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teachers Education (TE) were merged into Samagra Shiksha,” and that “the Ministry at the same time slashed down Financial Support for Teacher’s salary to 25000.00.”
Following the reduction, the Government of Nagaland (GoN) “had issued Office Memorandum (OM) on 17th & 18th August 2018 to all the erstwhile RMSA Teachers of 2016 Batch engaged by the Nagaland Education Mission Society (NEMS) to accept the terms and condition of the modified salary package sanctioned by Government of India (GOI).” However, “the RMSA 2016 Batch refused to accept and filed a suit before the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench.”
The department stated that the Gauhati High Court “had given a verdict in favour of RMSA 2016 Batch vide Judgement and Order Dt 20-05-2020 and directed that the State Government should maintain status quo in regard to their monthly salary. Therefore, the Government till date has been releasing their salary as per court’s directive.”
It further said, “Against the same writ petition (Case No. WA 9/2020), the petitioners appealed before the Court for grant of scale pay. The Court in its Order dated 16-03-2022 directed the state government to grant scale of pay at pay band Rs 9300-Rs 34800 with Grade Pay of Rs 4200 forthwith.”
“Upon this directive, the Government of Nagaland (GoN) appealed against the Gauhati High Court Order dated the 16-03-2022 before the Supreme Court of India seeking Special Leave Petition (SLP). However, the SLP was dismissed dated 20-05-2025. The State has once again filed a Review Petition on 14 Aug 2025 and the final judgement is awaited,” the department stated.
It also pointed out that “since 2022-23, Government of India (GOI) has changed the funding pattern of the Financial Support for teacher salary with a progressive reduction of 5% annually both in Elementary and Secondary under Samagra Shiksha. In this current financial year 2025-26, the support has been reduced by 25%. In absolute terms, it has been reduced from Rs 25000/- to Rs 18750/- with the state government bearing the additional burden in the ratio of 40:60.”
Regarding efforts to break the deadlock, the statement said, “In order to resolve the impasse, a meeting was held on the 2nd & 3rd September 2025 with the agitating teachers. The State Mission Authority made an appeal to call off the agitation and resume work since the government had preferred to file Review Petition, but the NRMSA Teacher Association 2016 Batch did not heed to the appeal.”
Furthermore, “On 11th September 2025, a joint meeting was convened by the Commissioner and Secretary School Education Department with ANSTA representatives, RMSA 2016 Batch, Samagra Shiksha and officials from the School Education Department.”
“The Department is of the view that it is the constitutional right of the department to approach the higher court for review. At the same time the Department also apprised the Teachers that once the Court hearing takes place, the Government shall in utmost seriousness consider all the demands of the Teachers. Since the matter is in the court for disposal, the Teachers should wait and also go back to their respective place and resume their duties,” the statement concluded.