Nagaland: School heads cautioned of e-cigarettes dangers

January 9, 2024 12 Views No Comment

Kohima, January 9 (MExN): Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) has informed all schools registered under the board that the Government of India has prohibited electronic cigarettes and like devices vide Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act 2019, in the interest of public health.

A DIPR report stated that the information is being released as per the letter dated 28th December, 2023 from the Ministry of Education, Department of School Education and Literacy, Government of India, it stated that electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) pose serious health risks, particularly among young children and also these devices are readily available through online stores and local vendors which have been considered as a matter of grave concern. It has also been informed that such devices are being sold at convenience or at stationery stores near educational institutions, which is resulting in easy access for young children to such products.

Therefore, all heads of registered institutions have been requested to take suitable steps, to educate and sensitise students and teachers about the harmful effects of e-cigarettes and the prohibition of e-cigarettes.

Textbooks published with QR code

Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) has notified for the information of all the Heads of Registered Institutions and stakeholders that the textbooks of Mathematics and Social Sciences subjects for Classes IX and X for academic session 2024, have been published with QR code technology to create engaging and interactive learning experiences, and to improve students’ learning.

These textbooks have separate QR codes printed in the textbooks for each topics, sub-topics, activities, examples and questions given in the exercises. By scanning these QR Codes, the students will have complete access to videos explanations, which can be accessed any number of times. These books are called Smart Textbooks which will help the students learn anytime, anywhere and at the same time, empower teachers by providing them with additional resources.

The use of QR Codes, being versatile in its simplicity and adaptability, aims to integrate technology into the curriculum effectively as envisaged in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This will simultaneously develop digital literacy as well as conceptual clarity in our children and prepare them for a technology-driven future, where digital skills as well as competency in the subjects will help them realise their goals. Detailed instructions on how to use the QR codes are given in the textbooks.

All Heads of Institutions have been requested to disseminate the information regarding Smart Textbooks for secondary level Mathematics and Social Sciences, to students, teachers and parents, and encourage the use of these digital resources to enhance the teaching and learning process.