MasterCoach Teachers Program Excellence Award Ceremony held

January 25, 2024 13 Views No Comment

KOHIMA, JANUARY 25 (MExN): The MasterCoach Teachers Program Excellence Award Ceremony was held at the Directorate of School Education, Kohima on January 24. The event was organized by YouthNet in collaboration with Quest Alliance and Directorate of School Education.

Addressing the ceremony, Principal Director, Directorate of School Education, Thavaseelan K, commended YouthNet, IBM, and Quest Alliance for their dedication to implementing IBM-STEM for girls in Nagaland.

He acknowledged the challenges faced by girls pursuing STEM careers in the state, emphasizing that the program not only addresses the gender gap but also equips teachers with crucial 21st-century skills.

Thavaseelan K expressed appreciation for the program’s current focus on six districts and requested IBM, Quest Alliance, and YouthNet to consider extending it to the remaining 10 districts.

Nuneseno Chase, Director of YouthNet and the first MasterCoach from Nagaland, detailed the progress and notable achievements of the MasterCoach program. She highlighted the dedication of teachers, noting an impressive 58% overall completion rate by 171 teachers from 57 government high schools and higher secondary schools across six districts- Kohima, Tseminyu, Dimapur, Chümoukedima, Niuland, and Kiphire.

Nuneseno expressed hope for the program’s expansion to cover all 16 districts with the support of the Principal Director.
The MasterCoach Teachers Program serves as an in-service teacher training initiative, aiming to equip educators with 21st-century facilitation skills, social capital, and a roadmap for professional growth.

The program focuses on transforming classrooms into 21st-century learning environments by imparting digital literacy, problem-solving, critical thinking, life and job skills, leadership, cultural competence, ethical and emotional awareness, as well as effective communication and collaboration.

The award ceremony, part of the YouthNet Employee Innovation Challenge pitched by Hikou Mekrisu, Program Coordinator of IBM-SkillsBuild, aimed to recognize and appreciate the outstanding performance and dedication of teachers. Awards were presented to the six best-performing teachers from the districts of Kohima, Tseminyu, Kiphire, Chümoukedima, Dimapur and Niuland.

The recipients, include Nepasula from GHS Chandmari, Khriekeyieno Zashumo from GHS Kandinu, Imlibenla from GHS Kichang, Mary Rhi from GHS Chümoukedima Village, Anungla Pongener from GHS Lingrijan, and Bovika H Chishi from GHS Zuheshe.

They expressed gratitude for the chance to be part of the program and shared experiences from workshops and curriculum activities, highlighting the program’s impact on creating a relaxed and enjoyable learning environment.

Mary Rhi, a science teacher, mentioned incorporating devices and gadgets into her teaching, showcasing the practical application of the MasterCoach Training Program. Khriekeyieno Zashumo suggested introducing the training to all teachers in phases for new enrolments.

Anungla Pongener credited the program for fostering qualities such as self-awareness, resilience, adaptability, non-judgmentalism, compassion, critical thinking, problem-solving, innovation, research, communication skills, and collaboration.

The ceremony was further graced by Kevileno Angami, Commissioner and Secretary of School Education underscoring the significance of recognizing and celebrating the dedication of teachers in Nagaland.