KSO rues College faculty shortage, threatens stir
Source: Chronicle News Service

Kangpokpi, May 09 2025: Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), Sadar Hills, has issued a 10-day ultimatum to the state government, demanding immediate deployment of adequate teaching faculty members at Presidency College, Motbung, the lone government college in Kangpokpi district.

KSO warned that failure to meet the demand will lead to an indefinite economic blockade, holding the government solely responsible for the fallout.

In a joint press conference with the Presidency College, Motbung Students' Union (PCMSU) at the KSO administrative office, Kangpokpi, KSO Sadar Hills education secretary Jangginthang Haokip voiced deep resentment over the persistent neglect of the education system in the hill districts.

"The chronic shortage of faculty at Presidency College is not an isolated administrative issue, it is a symptom of the deep-seated inequality the hills have suffered for decades," he said.

Despite repeated appeals, the government has failed to appoint even the minimum number of faculty members needed to maintain basic academic standards.

Jangginthang noted that the neglect denies hill students their constitutional rights to quality education, reflecting systemic discrimination that has long plagued the state.

KSO lambasted the state government for its apparent prioritisation of the valley districts while ignoring the critical educational needs of the hills.

"Education is the foundation of empowerment, especially in conflict-ridden societies like ours," Jangginthang stated.

"But the ongoing neglect in Kangpokpi exposes the state's disregard for equitable development and deepens the socio-political divide," he added.

He argued that the denial of educational opportunities is not just an administrative lapse, but a political act that reinforces historical injustices and erodes trust in governance.

"At a time when Manipur desperately needs healing and peace, investing in education in the hill regions should be the government's foremost priority..

Instead, we see indifference that undermines the very foundation of harmony and progress" .

KSO emphasised that students from the hills are not seeking privilege, but fairness.

"Education should be the bridge to unity, not a wall of exclusion," Jangginthang said, calling on the government to act decisively to rectify the imbalance.

Official data from Presidency College reveals that the institution has 12 departments, yet lacks faculty in several major departments, including Zoology, Chemistry, and Botany.

The college currently requires at least 42 teaching faculty members, highlighting the gravity of the crisis.

According to KSO, multiple representations have been submitted to the Governor and relevant authorities, but no concrete action has followed.

The students' body warned that if their demands are not addressed within 10 days, they will intensify their agitation through a democratic, indefinite economic blockade.

Supporting KSO's stance, the Presidency College Motbung Students' Union also expressed its deep concern over the acute faculty shortage which, it said, continues to hamper academic progress and demoralise students.

"This is not merely a college issue but a collective fight for educational justice in the hill areas," said PCMSU information and publicity secretary Goumang Kilong.

He urged all civil society organisations, student bodies, and concerned citizens to stand in solidarity, stressing that the future of hill youth must no longer be compromised.

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