Pen-down strike cripples Higher Secondary education in Ukhrul
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik

Ukhrul, July 22 2025: The ongoing pen-down strike by newly appointed lecturers has severely disrupted regular classes across higher secondary schools in Ukhrul district.

During a press conference held at Ukhrul Hr Sec School (UHSS), Wino Bazar, Sorinchon Rungsung, a lecturer at the school, stated that the newly appointed lecturers of 2018 batch from Ukhrul district have joined the statewide pen-down strike called by the Lecturers' Association Manipur (LAM) - 2018 batch.

The strike, being observed from July 21-26, demands the completion of the regularisation process and the disbursement of entitled salaries and allowances for higher secondary lecturers with effect from March 1, 2023 .

According to Rungsung, the State Government had regularized 603 contract lecturers in January, 2022, with the appointment letter clearly stating entitlement to pay and allowances from April 1, 2023 .

However, the concerned authorities have neither completed the regularisation process nor given the entitled regular salary as mentioned in the appointment letter, said Rungsung.

Meanwhile, principal of UHSS, Josiah Suirang expressed deep concern over the strike's impact on the school's academic functioning.

"The pen-down strike has badly affected the school's routine and created a severe shortage of teachers, particularly in the arts and science streams," he said.

Suirang added that while UHSS currently has over 548 students enrolled, it has been forced to suspend admissions to the commerce stream this year due to the lack of available lecturers.

He urged the concerned authorities to address the lecturers' grievances at the earliest and take swift action to resume normal classes without further hindrances.

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