Aizawl: All the government offices and educational institutions in nine villages of Mizoram's five districts will reopen from Friday after they remained closed for more than a week because of an agitation launched by various associations over ad hoc status.

All government offices and educational institutions in Sakawrdai, Phullen, Thingsulthliah and North East Khawdungsei in Aizawl district, Zawlnuam and West Phaileng in Mamit district, East Lungdar in Serchhip district, Farkawn in Champhai district and Zobawk in Lunglei district were closed since July 26 due to an indefinite strike called by Mizoram Government Lumpsum Grant-in-Aid Higher Secondary School Association (MIGLAHSSA), Joint Action Committee, Joint Students' Union (JSU) and managing boards, demanding ad hoc status for nine lumpsum grant-in aid higher secondary schools in their respective villages.

The associations also blocked roads in their respective villages but it was called off on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters at a news conference here on Thursday, MIGLAHSSA general secretary R. Lalfakawma said the joint meeting between them, the Joint Students Union and the managing boards of nine schools on Thursday decided to call off the strike and reopen the government offices and educational institutions from Friday after the associations evolved new strategy to intensify their agitation.

He said nine lumpsum higher secondary schools, which are on indefinite strike for 41 days since June 18 will also reopen from next Monday. Lalfakawma said they have made repeated appeals to the state government to upgrade the schools to ad hoc status, but to no avail. "In 2013, the then education minister Lalsawta promised us that it will not be difficult for the government to upgrade the schools. He instructed us to prepare a list for schools which are run by the villages. However, our hopes were dashed to the ground," he said.

He said the association had listed 26 schools, of which nine are higher secondary schools run by the villages.

According to the leader, nine higher secondary schools have been running for 14 years with the efforts and contribution of the public and it has become difficult for them to look after them as it involves huge financial requirements.

He said the state government had earlier planned to increase lumpsum grant to the schools from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh, which was opposed by the associations.

According to Lalfakawma, the meeting also resolved to stage a protest rally here to mount pressure on the government.

Thousands of school children were affected by the strike and nearly 850 students belonging to nine lumpsum grant-in-aid higher secondary schools could not give their first-term examination because of the strike.