The protest organized by the Sao Chang College Students’ Union (SCCSU), which had been going on since 31 August, has been called off. This decision was made following a joint meeting between representatives of the Students’ Union, the college authority, and the district administration. Chongshenmongba Chang, the former General Secretary of the SCCSU, revealed that the district administration has assured that their demands will be addressed.
The students had been steadfastly advocating for three primary demands: replacement of dilapidated buses, the repair of a critical 7.5-kilometer road stretch connecting Tuensang town to the college campus, and the appointment of a principal.
The students said that the college currently operates with four outdated buses, out of which only three are partially functional, accommodating around 80 passengers. This falls significantly short of the needs of the college, which boasts an enrollment of 668 students. Consequently, approximately 70% of the students face difficulties attending classes daily, and some even missed recent internal exams due to the unavailability of college buses. The situation worsened with a brake failure incident occurring on 30 August and a similar accident in 2022 which left students anxious about traveling in these outdated vehicles.
Another pressing concern voiced by the students was the absence of a principal in the college for the past 4 to 5 years. Despite their persistent efforts to bring this issue to the attention of the authorities, it remained unaddressed, leading to concerns about the overall functioning of the college.
In reiteration of these demands, the Students’ Union submitted a memorandum to the authorities, expressing their frustration with what they referred to as “fake promises” and alleging “step-motherly” treatment against the student community. They urged the authorities to approach the matter with utmost sincerity, warning that they would take independent action if their concerns were not addressed promptly.