Nagaland honours over 31,000 educators on Teachers’ Day

September 6, 2022 25 Views No Comment

Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 6

Nagaland today honoured more than 31,000 teachers across Nagaland and recognized their contributions in building and nurturing children.

In the state capital Kohima, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio handed over state level teachers’ award 2022 to 20 teachers at the state level teachers’ day celebration at Capital Cultural Hall.

Rio also felicitated the 50 top rank holders of HSLC 2021 and 2022 Examination under the Chief Minster Meritorious Scholarship Fellowship. This fellowship has been instituted by Chief Minister to recognize merit and to financially support the meritorious students.

He also launched the Nagaland Reading Festival (Enabling micro improvements to improve love for reading), Digital Diary for government teachers and ‘A Question A Day’ (AGAD) in collaboration with educational initiatives.

During the celebration, the national anthem was led by students of TM Government Higher Secondary School Kohima, and a special song was presented by students of Mt Sinai Higher Secondary School, Kohima.

A short video on National Awards to Teachers 2022 awardee Mimi Yhoshu, Head Teacher, Government Middle School, Officers’ Hill, Kohima was screened during the programme. Also, a short video on the life sketch of Late Dr S Radhakrishnan was presented by Rüzhükhrie Government Higher Secondary School, Kohima.

Honouring of teachers was led by students of Little Flower Higher Secondary School, Kohima; tribute to teachers by students of Pilgrim Higher Secondary School, Kuda ‘B’ Dimapur; and special song by Arolü Phesao from The Vineyard, Kohima.

Earlier, the teachers’ day message from the Governor of Nagaland was read out by Wonthungo Tsopoe, Director, School Education, Nagaland. Welcome address was delivered by Kevileno Angami, Commissioner and Secretary for School Education & SCERT while vote of thanks was proposed by Thavaseelan K, Principal Director, Directorate of School Education.

Teachers Attendance Monitoring System
The CM stated that teaching is a very noble profession; it is not limited to providing only academic knowledge but students look up to their teachers to find their ethical and moral compass, and learn values that will guide them throughout their lifetime.

While reminding them of the important role they play in making students as responsible and contributing citizens of society, Rio said that teachers play a huge role in shaping the future of the society, state and country.

Rio informed that the Digital Diary for government teachers is being initiated to enable government teachers to record their progress in classroom teaching learning transactions. He expressed hope that through this, there will be improvement in their performance.

Condemning the practice of proxy teaching, he said that to stop these practices, the Government will be launching a Teachers Attendance Monitoring System in days to come, to help address proxy teaching and improve the attendance of teachers in their respective postings.

Sharing some concerns regarding the School Education Department, Rio stated that the department has the second largest number of employees in the state.

He emphasized the role of teachers, especially government teachers in reaching the remotest villages where few private schools are present, citing that the teacher-student ratio in the state is 1:12, while the national average is 1:27, and in government schools, the ratio is better at 1:7.

While stating that government schools have not come up to expectation, Rio called on the government teachers and the department to introspect and see how they can match or perform better than private schools.

Rio also commended the present set of leadership and officials of the department for the hard work that they are putting in to address the issues facing the School Education Department.

He informed that the government has mainstreamed the qualified eligible teachers who were recruited through open advertisement under erstwhile SSA and RMSA of 2010 and 2013 batches; they have been granted ROP 2010.

He stated that the State Government is also working towards strengthening the teacher recruitment process by making it more transparent by giving equal opportunity to all candidates.

Sukhalu calls for curbing proxy teachers in Nagaland
Nagaland’s School Education and SCERT Advisor KT Sukhalu informed that there are more than 31,000 teachers serving in government, private and central schools.

He said that the present progress of the state can be credited to the dedicated teachers who have shaped and moulded the leaders and thinkers in the society.

“Teachers must be appreciated for consciously opting to take up the noble teaching profession, nurturing the destiny and future of the state. Teachers are required to serve in the remotest areas, bringing education and enlightenment to children and families.

Today more than ever, we need teachers to be exemplary role model who can inculcate in students not only knowledge seeking behaviour, but who can instill virtues of truth, hard work, honesty, simplicity, sensitivity to needs of fellow beings and nature, he said.

But unfortunately, he said, there are many teachers in government schools who have not seen classrooms for years but have been keeping proxies.

“Such teachers not only are bad role models but also compromise the future of students, of generations and of the future of the state. Such activities should be condemned and reported upon,” he said, adding that the School Education Department has already started taking action against such teachers.

“It is not only a criminal act but also an act of great moral failure. I have said this often before but I will reiterate, if there are teachers who do not want to serve, they should immediately resign rather than sacrificing the future of the students,” Sukhalu said.

Recognizing that school education is critical for human resource development of the state, the department has initiated various reforms, he informed.

To ensure career progression, the qualified RMSA/ SSA teachers of 2010 & 2013 have been mainstreamed into the State Cadre bringing their long demand to a logical end. It will provide morale boost to these teachers to serve with more focus.

Under various initiatives of the State Government, Samagra Shiksha, Government of India and World Bank funded (NECTAR) project, efforts are being made to reform the education sector in the state, the Advisor said.

STATE AWARD TO TEACHERS 2022
• Mary Tep, Graduate Teacher, GMS Tesophenyu
• S Bensochullen, Primary Teacher, GHS Chingmelen
• Visedenuo, Post Graduate Teacher, GHSS Chozuba
• Saji Paulose, Head Teacher, St. Thomas School, Tuensang Village
• Temsumongla Jamir, Graduate Teacher, GHSS Mon
• Basoyemjong Chang, Graduate Teacher, GHS Nito, Niuland
• Lephizo Apon, Graduate Teacher, GHSS Dimapur
• T Apokla, Assistant Teacher, St Mary Higher Secondary School, Dimapur
• Jiheli Swu, Assistant Teacher, St Anthony’s School Amiphoto Colony
• Thejaselie Savino, Graduate Teacher, GHSS Chumukedima
• Neitholezo Nakhro, Graduate Teacher, GMS Kigwema
• N Wanmai Konyak, Teacher in-charge, GPS ‘B’ Monyakshu Village
• Savithsu Nyuthe, Assistant Teacher, St Xavier HSS Meluri
• N. Adahrii, Assistant Teacher, St Andrew School, Jotsoma
• Vikali H, Primary Teacher, Shovishe Memorial GHS
• Y Thungbeni Ezung, Assistant Teacher, Don Bosco HSS, Wokha
• Tonko Bahadur Chetri, Assistant Teacher, Green Valley School, Mon
• L Rijing, Primary Teacher, GMS Muleangkiur, Shamator
• Rhonbeni Kikon, Post Graduate Teacher, GHSS Jotsoma
• Lamhen Kuki, Hindi Teacher, GHS Lilen