At least 90 students from Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) in Nangnyo, Pakke Kessang district, staged a remarkable 65-km overnight march to protest the acute shortage of teachers at their school.

Dressed in blue uniforms, the girls – many carrying umbrellas and backpacks – set out from Nyangno village on Sunday evening and reached the district headquarters, Lemmi, the following morning. Video clips of their march went viral on social media, showing the students holding placards reading “a school without a teacher is just a building”.

Led by Class 11 and 12 students, the protestors demanded immediate recruitment of Geography and Political Science teachers, saying repeated appeals to school authorities and the education department had gone unanswered.

District education officer Deepak Tayeng confirmed the shortage and said the department has now approved the appointment of the required subject teachers following the protest. The students were later transported back to their school in vehicles arranged by officials.

Established in 2011-12 and managed by Sei Donyi Charitable Trust, the residential school currently serves over 90 girls from disadvantaged communities. It has 13 teachers, a headmistress and a warden, but lacked subject specialists in key areas.

The unprecedented march sparked concern among parents and the public, but officials said the students were safe and “doing fine” after their journey.

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