Manipur Higher Secondary Schools Hit as Contractual Teachers’ Strike Enters Day 3

---

Summary of the News

Academic activities in government higher secondary schools across Manipur came to a standstill for the third consecutive day as over 600 contractual teachers from the 2018 batch continued their pen-down strike. They are demanding regularisation of services based on a state cabinet decision from January 2022 and timely salary disbursal as per a follow-up order from April 2023, both of which they allege remain unimplemented. The six-day strike—spearheaded by the Lecturers’ Association Manipur (2018 batch)—has raised concerns of prolonged academic setbacks, with students from schools like Johnstone Higher Secondary School and CC Higher Secondary School joining in solidarity protests on campus

---

Introduction: A Strike That Shakes The Classroom

Have you ever wondered what happens when the very people meant to educate our youth down tools? In Manipur, that question turned urgent as over 600 contractual lecturers hit pause on their teaching duties, shutting down higher secondary schools statewide. Imagine waking up one morning to find your classroom deserted, your whiteboard clean, your future uncertain. That’s the reality Manipur’s students have faced for the past three days—and counting.

Why This Strike Matters

1. Educational Continuity at Risk
   For students in grades 11 and 12, every lecture, lab, and discussion counts toward board exams and college admission. A multi-day strike isn’t just an inconvenience—it can derail an entire semester’s momentum.
2. Financial Strain on Teachers
   These aren’t tenured professors—they’re contractual staff who survive month to month. With delayed salaries and no job security, striking is as much about dignity as it is about pay.
3. Policy vs. Practice
   The 2022 cabinet decision and the subsequent 2023 order promised regularisation and timely pay. Yet even with these policies on record, implementation has lagged—a classic case of paper promises failing people.

---

Tracing the Timeline: From Promise to Protest

January 2022: A Cabinet Nod

In early 2022, Manipur’s cabinet approved a plan to regularise contractual lecturers hired in 2018—promising permanence and parity with permanent staff. This decision held the potential to stabilize careers and classrooms alike

April 2023: Salary Sanity Check

A follow-up order mandated timely salary disbursal from April 2023 onwards—ensuring that no teacher would go without pay. Again, the ink dried on the order—but salaries remained erratic.

July 21, 2025: The Strike Begins

Fed up after seven months of broken promises and financial stress, the lecturers—organized under the Lecturers’ Association Manipur (2018 batch)—launched a six-day pen-down strike starting Monday, July 21. They vowed not to resume duties until regularisation and salary issues were resolved.

---

Voices from the Frontline: Teachers Speak Out

“We have been diligently performing our duties, including election responsibilities, but we are still denied regular salaries.”
—S. Anita, protesting lecturer, Johnstone Higher Secondary School

Anita’s words cut deep: these teachers not only educate but also serve the community in roles like election officers. Yet, when it comes to their own livelihoods, they’re left in limbo.

---

Ripple Effects: Students in Solidarity

Campus Protests

Students from Johnstone Higher Secondary School and CC Higher Secondary School marched with placards, chanting slogans urging the state government to act swiftly. For them, the strike isn’t abstract—it’s their study time slipping away.

Academic Anxiety

Imagine preparing for critical board exams, only to face lost lecture hours and uncertainty about syllabus completion. Guidance sessions and revision workshops have been canceled, leaving students scrambling for alternate study plans.

---

Conclusion: Bridging the Gap Between Promise and Practice

In Manipur, a policy inked in January 2022 and an order issued in April 2023 haven’t translated into classrooms and paychecks. Meanwhile, 600+ teachers stand idle, students sit idle desks, and parents clamor for solutions. It’s time for Manipur’s leadership to turn pledges into payroll entries, decisions into deeds, and promises into progress. Because when educators are empowered, classrooms flourish—and with them, the future of an entire generation.

---

Frequently Asked Questions