‘Need for synergy among stakeholders involved in the educational ecosystem’

‘Politicians, Bureaucrats and Teachers must work together to improve education in Nagaland’

Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 15

In a call for sweeping reforms in the education sector, views shared by readers in The Morung Express Suggestion Platform on “Practical and concrete measures policy makers can take in order to improve the quality of education in Nagaland” stressed on the urgent need for education policies to be crafted by qualified experts rather than being left solely in the hands of politicians and bureaucrats. 

The responses from concerned citizens, also unearthed a host of issues plaguing the education system, from backdoor appointments to the dire state of public school infrastructure, the need for dedicated teachers and insistence on politicians relinquishing control over the education department.

A call for politicians to step back
Perhaps one of the most reflective takeaways from the survey was the insistence that politicians should relinquish control over the education department. Many respondents voiced concern that political interference often hindered genuine educational progress. They argued that education should be formulated and executed by qualified experts who understand the complexities of the field, rather than serving as a tool for political maneuvering. 

“Politicians must keep their hands away from Education department. Politicians have over the years been responsible for destroying the Education department because they keep on appointing their relatives, family members, villagers and political supports into the education department. This has destroyed the department. No politician or bureaucrat worth their salt has had the will or the courage to clean up the system,” a reader underscored. 

One reader emphasised the necessity of synergy among all stakeholders involved in the educational ecosystem. “The education system cannot be left entirely with politicians and bureaucrats,” they opined. “It cannot also be left entirely to teachers. There must be a synergy where politicians, bureaucrats, and teachers must work together to improve education in Nagaland.”

Another opined that there should be more (and only) of academic interests rather than political interest/interference. “The department needs to come out with strict policies where there will be only academic interests as measures for growth. This must be made in such a way that no one can interfere in this policy, except the department governing body, that also with all transparency.”

Need for dedicated teachers, timely salaries 
The poll survey also emphasized the need for dedicated and well compensated teachers as one reader noted, “Most of the teachers are there out of employment, not because they want to become teachers. This is one of the biggest obstacles. Many teachers do not go to their place of appointment and instead send their proxy.”

In a similar vein, another reader stressed a change in mindset. “A change of mindset is required. Every teacher must be dedicated and should be willing to go wherever they are transferred, not lobby with politicians for postings of their choice.”

The cry for timely payments and respect for educators emerged as another recurring theme in the readers’ responses. “Teachers should be paid their salary on time and must be respected,” a simple yet vital recommendation.

Meanwhile, one reader raised the pertinent issue of policymaker qualifications. “Policy makers should be those people who have been in the teaching profession from the grassroots level for at least 20 to 25 years,” it was suggested. “Not those who got a windfall by passing competitive exams, who have never seen a real classroom.”

Others 
In the pursuit of practical measures to enhance education in Nagaland, several readers shared comprehensive suggestions. They proposed optimizing the communitization project by reviewing performance metrics, realigning objectives, and strengthening accountability mechanisms.

 Furthermore, they recommended increasing the budget allocation for comprehensive school infrastructure development to provide a conducive learning environment.

Addressing the pressing issue of seat availability, readers called for ensuring an adequate number of seats and teachers up to the 12th grade, covering arts, sciences, and commerce, at all district-level schools. Additionally, they suggested encouraging the state school board to establish programs that define, enhance, and ensure minimum reading and numeracy standards for each class/grade.

Recognising the changing demands of the job market, readers advocated for the upgrade of vocational education programs. They emphasized the incorporation of basic business, financial, and marketing knowledge, along with communication skills, to align with the modern job market’s requirements.

Moreover, they urged policymakers to facilitate pathways that encourage individuals to pursue STEM fields and capitalize on the technological advancements of the 21st century.

To enhance students’ employability after completing their matriculation, readers called for the establishment or upgrade of existing skill-based centers. These centers would play a crucial role in imparting practical skills and knowledge, aligning students with job market demands.
There was also a call to clean up the system, with some readers stressing the need to identify and remove backdoor appointments and bogus positions that have plagued the education department for years.

In the broader context, readers advocated strengthening public schools and making education a priority in state policy. They urged that classes 1 to 12 fall under the school education system and that colleges refrain from providing PU first-year and second-year courses, with legal penalties for violations.

Another reader, a tutor, emphasised the importance of transparency in teaching. They suggested informing students of the relevance, uses, and resourcefulness of the topics studied, promoting self-evaluation, and fostering responsible individuals in a classroom.

Ultimately, the poll survey painted a vivid portrait of the path to enhancing education in Nagaland while underscoring a pressing need for a paradigm shift in the education sector.