The Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) on Monday shut down two government-run teacher training institutions, citing prolonged faculty shortages, lack of infrastructure, and administrative lapses that, according to the organisation, have severely affected academic functioning.
The affected institutions are the Government Hindi Teachers’ Training College and the Post Graduate Teachers’ Training College. DESAM stated that both colleges have been operating for an extended period without permanent principals and with inadequate numbers of teaching staff. The student body also alleged that several faculty members were transferred without appointing replacements, further weakening the institutions.
DESAM claimed that repeated complaints submitted to the concerned authorities, including Dhanamanjuri University and the education department, failed to elicit any corrective response. The organisation argued that continued reliance on in-charge appointments for key posts has led to poor governance and declining academic standards in teacher education.
Speaking to reporters, DESAM General Secretary Thoithoiba Nongthombam said the closure was intended to draw urgent attention from the President’s Rule administration, the Education Commissioner, and other relevant authorities. He announced a 72-hour ultimatum, demanding immediate filling of vacant posts, return of transferred faculty members, and appointment of permanent principals in both colleges.
Warning of intensified protests if their demands remain unmet, DESAM maintained that the action was taken in the interest of safeguarding the quality of teacher training in Manipur. No official response from the authorities had been received at the time of filing this report.
