Kohima: Nagaland has decided to reverse the transfer of 33 teachers to address acute staff shortages in its eastern districts, officials confirmed on Thursday. The decision was taken during an emergency meeting chaired by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Wednesday.
The School Education Department reported that the eastern districts currently have 606 government schools, 45,174 students, and 4,733 teachers, with a pupil-teacher ratio of 10:1, according to UDISE 2024-25. The rationalisation policy approved by the Cabinet in August 2025, intended to optimise teacher deployment, had inadvertently worsened staffing deficits in these areas.
Following deliberations, the government decided to reinstate the 33 teachers to their original postings. Additionally, subject-specific teachers in Hindi, Maths, and Science from other districts will be transferred back to the eastern region to ensure essential subjects are adequately staffed.
Newly recruited Maths and Science teachers will also be posted directly to the six districts facing the most severe shortages. Vacant positions may be converted into priority subject posts, with recruitment conducted through open advertisement to attract qualified candidates.
As a temporary measure, the department will explore engaging community teachers until permanent solutions are in place. The government also plans to consult elected representatives and district administrations to ensure a more locally sensitive approach to teacher rationalisation.
The move comes two days after the Eastern Nagaland Students Federation (ENSF) launched protests on Monday, closing government schools and offices in Mon, Tuensang, Kiphire, Longleng, Noklak, and Shamator districts. The ENSF had cited the rationalisation policy for causing critical teacher shortages, which disrupted the education of thousands of students.
Following the government’s intervention, the ENSF has agreed to keep the agitation on hold and participate in discussions scheduled for September 20.
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