Govt school lecturers launch pen-down stir in Ukhrul
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, July 22 2025: Government school lecturers in Ukhrul district have launched a five-day pen-down strike, beginning July 21, in solidarity with the ongoing agitation by the Lecturers' Association Manipur-2018 batch (LAM) against the government s failure to translate their regularisation order into actions.

Briefing the media at Ukhrul Higher Secondary School (UHSS) on Tuesday, English lecturer Sorinchon Vashum, flanked by fellow striking lecturers, explained that the district's LAM members unanimously decided on the strike, which will continue till July 26, in line with LAM's broader call initiated on July 19 .

Govt school lecturers launch pen-down stir in Ukhrul

"This decision was taken by the association after repeated delays in fulfilling the commitments made by the government," Vashum stated.

She highlighted that despite a regularisation order issued by the Education Commissioner on January 8, 2022, which promised entitled pay and allowances for higher secondary lecturers from April 1, 2023, authorities have neither completed the regularisation process nor disbursed the promised salaries to date.

Vashum informed that 11 striking lecturers from the 2018 batch at UHSS cover subjects like English, Political Science, History, Botany, and Zoology, emphasising their continued dedication to their duties in nation building despite the government's continued failure.

"We urge the department concerned to complete the regularisation process and release our regular salaries without further delays in view of the difficulties we are currently facing," she pleaded.

Meanwhile, UHSS principal Joshia Suirangwo told the media that the strike, initiated by the 11 newly regularised lecturers, has severely disrupted the school's academic atmosphere.

He noted that these striking lecturers teach various subjects, and their absence, coupled with exist ing staff shortages, has significantly impacted regular classes for Class XI and XII students in subjects such as English, Tangkhul, History, Science, and Political Science.

Suirangwo informed that there are 200 Arts and 85 Science students in Class XI, and 154 Arts, 55 Science, and 34 Commerce students in Class XII at the school.

He also pointed out the acute lack of Commerce lecturers for Class XI, stating that the school is currently unable to continue offering the Commerce stream without immediate recruitment for the said post.

The principal then appealed to the government to address the lecturers' grievances promptly, seeking an amicable resolution to ensure students' learning is not compromised and the school administration can function smoothly.

Along with the LAM members at UHSS, lecturers under LAM 2018 batch from three other government higher secondary schools namely, Talui Higher Secondary Academy with 3 lecturers, Somdal NK Higher Secondary School with 5 lecturers, and Jessami Higher Secondary School with 4 lecturers are also on a pen-down strike at their respective workplaces.

A total of 23 lecturers from the district are currently taking part in the strike.