Students rally for 'right to education'
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 24 2025: Students across districts staged protest and carried out demonstrations on Thursday, voicing deep concern over the ongoing pen-down strike by their teachers since July 21 severely disrupting their studies.

Speaking on the sidelines of protest carried out by students of Wangoi Higher Secondary School, one of the students lamented that around 26 teachers of the school have joined the pen-down strike, causing disruption to normal academic chores.

"Students especially those studying in Class XII are worried whether they would be able to cover the syllabus before the examination," said the student, adding that Chemistry and Home Science are among the severely affected subjects.

Students rally for 'right to education'

Four out of five chemistry teachers are participating in the strike, with the fifth currently on sick leave.

Similarly, all three Home Science teachers are on strike, resulting in suspension of classes for both subjects, the student said, urging authorities concerned to help resolve the strike.

During the protest, the students shouted and held placards inscribed with slogans demanding a peaceful academic atmosphere for students.

Meanwhile, one of the teachers participating in the strike stated that after their services were regularised in January, 2022, they have not received the regular pay since April, 2023 .

Although they care about the students, the teachers are stressed and unable to care or feed their families since they have not received their salaries for a long time, the teacher said and appealed to authorities concerned to disburse their salaries at the earliest in the interest of the students.

The pen-down strike launched by Lecturers' Association Manipur (LAM)-2018 Batch since July 21 continued to disrupt normal classes in other districts as well.

On Thursday, students of Bishnupur Higher Secondary School staged demonstration demanding that the government release the pending salaries of the teachers to address their grievances and help resume normal classes.

Speaking to media persons, one of the protesting students pointed out that without attending regular classes they wouldn't be in a position to appear the examination conducted by Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur (COHSEM) .

The student urged the government to acknowledge demand of the teachers on strike.

During the demonstration, the students chanted slogans such as 'Pay the pending salaries of teachers at the earliest', 'We want resumption of classes', 'Ensure education for students', etc .

Speaking to media persons, School principal Kh Shyamkumar Singh informed that eight newly regularised lecturers had joined the school, but due to the strike only four periods could be ensured from the normal six.

Noting that academic activities of students suffered serious setback due to Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing turmoil in the state, he appealed to the government to release salaries of the striking teachers so students are entitled to their rights.

Similarly, normal classes were disrupted at Wangoi Higher Secondary School on Thursday with students staging protest to press the government address plight of the lecturers.

According to School vice principal Naorem Lokendro, of the total strength of 45 teachers, 26 are on strike, consequently affecting conduct of normal classes.

He also appealed to the government to invite the striking teachers for holding talks and ending the agitating.