T. Vaichong Govt. High School Struggles with Only 8 Teachers Against 21 Sanctioned Posts

In a rare and powerful plea that underscores the growing crisis in the education sector, a Class-9 student from T. Vaichong Government High School in Kangpokpi District has written directly to the Governor of Manipur, urging immediate intervention to address the acute shortage of qualified teachers in his school.

Eddy Dahal, Vice-Captain of the school, in his letter submitted through the Deputy Commissioner of Kangpokpi, highlighted that despite the school being listed under the prestigious PM SHRI Schools and the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (formerly RMSA) through the School Fagathansi Mission, the institution continues to reel under severe teacher shortages.

“While our school has been blessed with decent infrastructure and strong student enrollment, the lack of subject-specific qualified teachers is threatening our academic future. Our achievements in both academics and co-curricular activities are now at risk of collapse,” Dahal wrote, appealing for the Governor’s immediate intervention to provide the “best subject-specialized teachers from the state.”

The students of T. Vaichong also held a silent peaceful protest holding pamphlets in their hands, highlighting their demand for adequate teachers and the severe impact the shortage has on their learning.

Echoing the concerns of the student, the Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), Twilang Block, also submitted a memorandum to the Governor through its Education Secretary, Thangkholim Kipgen. The memorandum painted an even grimmer picture of the state of affairs, noting that the school lacks subject teachers in core areas such as Mathematics, Science, English, Hindi, and MIL.

The KSO Twilang Block Education Secretary also pointed out that out of the total 21 sanctioned teacher posts, currently only 8 teachers were posted in the school, while the transferring of teachers despite the shortage has immensely impacted both the students’ learning and overall enrollment.

In addition, the KSO pointed out infrastructural deficiencies, including the absence of music and arts teachers, peons, lab technicians, a functional science and mathematics laboratory, a library, computer lab, adequate classrooms, toilets, and proper drinking water facilities.

The organisation demanded that the government urgently fill all subject-specific vacancies, maintain the student-teacher ratio as per norms, and prohibit the transfer of teachers mid-session without confirmed replacements.

“Without urgent intervention, the academic prospects of hundreds of students will remain in jeopardy,” Kipgen warned.

The two appeals—one from a young student and another from a community student body—reflect a growing frustration with the government’s inability to address basic educational needs in remote areas. With T. Vaichong Government High School being one of the important institutions under flagship central and state missions, stakeholders say the situation exposes the stark gap between policy promises and ground realities.

The ball is now in the Governor’s court as students, parents, and community leaders await swift action to safeguard the future of T. Vaichong’s children.