DESAM locks principal offices of two teacher training colleges, flags crisis in Manipur’s education sector

Amid growing concerns over the deterioration of teacher education in Manipur, the Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) on Wednesday, January 7 escalated its protest by locking the principal offices of the DM College of Teacher Education (DMCTE) and the Hindi Teacher Training College. The student body accused the authorities of prolonged administrative apathy, warning that continued neglect could jeopardise the future of the state’s teacher training ecosystem.

DESAM launched the protest to highlight the acute shortage of permanent faculty and the absence of regular principals in both institutions. A team of DESAM activists locked the principal offices, demanding immediate corrective action to restore academic and administrative stability.

Speaking to the media at the protest site, DESAM Secretary General N Thoithoiba said years of administrative negligence have pushed both colleges to the brink of losing recognition from the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). He cautioned that such an outcome would deal a severe blow to teacher education in Manipur.

Highlighting the crisis at DMCTE, Thoithoiba said the institution, established in 1972, is Manipur’s only teacher training college offering both B.Ed and M.Ed programmes with NCTE recognition. Despite its critical role, the college has allegedly been functioning without a regular principal for decades and is currently managed by an in-charge principal.

He further pointed out that while DMCTE requires 32 faculty members as per norms, it is presently operating with only 14. Several teachers have reportedly been transferred out or engaged elsewhere, while those transferred into the college have not joined duty. DESAM demanded that all transferred teachers be relieved and made to join within 72 hours, and that a regular principal be appointed without further delay.

Addressing the situation at the Hindi Teacher Training College, Thoithoiba said the institution is facing a similar administrative vacuum, with neither a regular principal nor permanent teaching staff in place. He said the shortage has severely disrupted academic functioning and compromised training standards.

Appealing to the state government under President’s Rule, DESAM urged swift and decisive intervention. Thoithoiba warned that continued inaction could result in both colleges losing NCTE recognition, and asserted that responsibility for such a development would rest squarely with the education authorities.