Teachers' pen-down stir disrupts routine classes
Students form human chains in support of agitating teachers
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 23 2025: Even as classes remain suspended due to the pen-down strike launched by members of the Lecturers' Association Manipur (LAM) over irregular salary payments, students from various schools formed human chains and staged demonstrations on Wednesday in support of the agitating teachers.

Students from various higher secondary schools in the state carried placards inscribed with messages/slogans such as "Release the salary of the teachers", "Ensure that the students are taught by the teachers", "Enable us to study under conducive environment", "We condemn non-payment of teachers' salaries by the government", and "We condemn suffering caused to teachers and students due to the non-payment of teachers' salaries by the government".

Students of TG, Ibotonsana, Johnstone, CC, Ningthoukhong, Langmeidong and Moirang Multipurpose higher secondary schools came out and protested on the streets by forming human chains.

Johnstone Higher Secondary School DESAM unit council vice president Khaidem Jenichand, who took part in the demonstration, stated that 603 lecturers of higher secondary schools recruited by the government on contract basis in 2018, were posted at different schools and began their duties in 2019.Acknowledging that non-payment salaries for the last many months has led to frustration and demoralised the teachers, he noted that in-spite of the teachers reaching an understanding with the government on two occasions, the agreements and assurances given by the government have not been implemented, prompting the teachers to launch the pendown strike.

"Due to the strike, students are suffering, and their education has been adversely affected.

Therefore, the government needs to intervene immediately and ensure that students get the opportunity to study and learn without any disturbance," Jenichand said.

Students of Kakching Higher Secondary School have also been affected by the ongoing pen-down strike by teachers.

A total of 10 teachers from the school have joined the strike, severely impacting normal academic chores.

The students urged authorities concerned to address the issue promptly and ensure that their studies are not disrupted.

Speaking to reporters, Kakching Higher Secondary School vice principal Nongmaithem Sunita informed that the school has total enrolment of 1,077 students from classes VI to XII .

With Science, Arts and Commerce streams offered, more than 900 students are studying in classes IX to XII .

She informed that three English, two Manipuri and one each teacher from Chemistry, Education, Home Science, Political Science, and Zoology, have ceased service.

Meanwhile, five student organisations in Jiribam have urged authorities concerned to intervene in the ongoing pen-down strike called by the LAM, deploring that the agitation has severely disrupted the academic environment.

Addressing the media at the Babupara office of MSF Jiribam District Committee, DESAM Jiribam secretary general N Vivek stated that the pen-down strike is causing anxiety among the students.

He urged the government to resolve the issue at the earliest and ensure a peaceful academic environment where students can pursue their education without interruption.

The press conference was also attended by student representatives of MSF, KSA, AIMS and SUK.

Academic activities in government higher secondary schools across the state remained disrupted for the third consecutive day as more than 600 contractual teachers continued their pen-down strike demanding regularisation of their services and timely payment of salaries.

The six-day strike, launched on Monday by LAM 2018 batch, seeks implementation of a state cabinet decision that regularised their services in January 2022 and a subsequent order for regular salary disbursal from April 2023 - both of which remain unfulfilled, lecturers alleged.

"We have been performing our duties, including election work, but still haven't received regular salaries.

Many schools are affected, but we've been left with no option," said protesting lecturer S Anita.

She added, "We understand the students' plight, but we are also facing serious financial hardships.

We urge the government to complete the regularisation process and release our salaries" .

(With PTI inputs) .

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