No more classes on Saturdays, teachers are not slaves: Yhome

September 6, 2023 50 Views No Comment

Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 6

All schools in Nagaland, which include private schools, will no longer have regular classes on Saturdays.

This was announced by Advisor for School Education & SCERT, Dr Kekhrielhoulie Yhome during the State Level Teachers’ Day celebration here at NBCC Convention Hall, Kohima on Tuesday.

“Saturdays will be strictly observed as holidays. Teachers are not slaves-they cannot afford to spend six days a week teaching. They need their family. Children too need time and environment that is outside the classroom for wholistic development,” Yhome stated while announcing a slew of reformations for schools in the state.

With Government Higher Secondary Schools registering heavy rush for admissions, the Advisor announced that students coming from Government High Schools will be given first preference for admission to Government Higher Secondary Schools. For this, a memorandum of agreement will be signed soon between government schools.

Mandatory for all to have School Children Health Card
In another announcement, Yhome said that starting next year, it will be mandatory for all to have a School Children Health Card, which will be introduced in collaboration with the Department of Health and Family Welfare. This will allow every child to get medical attention at the doorstep of their schools, he said.

Yhome further said that both private and government schools will follow a scheduled Sports Week.

District- wise to Inter-District to All-Nagaland Sports Meet will be conducted to identify and groom talents to represent the state nationally or internationally.

The Department is already in talks with the Nagaland Olympic Association, the Department of Youth Resource and Sports, to pool together resources toward conducting Common Sports, he added.

The Advisor also said that the nomenclature of Teacher-in-Charge will be done away with for Primary Schools to bring dignity to Head of Institutions. A new designation will be notified from the next academic year, he said.

‘Wage war on drug’
Concerned on the menace of drugs affecting the society and children, Yhome called upon the school establishments and teachers to Wage War on Drug- and bring to immediate notice.

Meanwhile, schools in rural areas have been encouraged to start classes early, depending on winter and summer. Schools can start their classes by 6 AM or 7 AM since a lot of morning hours are wasted due to inordinate time zones, he said.

Further, Yhome informed that Common Teachers Training will be notified, for which consultations with SCERT, NBSE, Samagra Shiksha, and other line Departments are in the process to prevent duplication.

Vidya Samiksha Kendra launched
The Advisor also launched the Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK) Nagaland. This is a centralized management system for monitoring the real-time status of various projects and activities of School Education and its sister organizations.

The main goal of VSK is to provide valuable insights and recommendations for improving the educational system and ensuring better learning outcomes for students.

Also speaking on the occasion, Kevileno Angami, Commissioner & Secretary, School Education & SCERT Nagaland paid respect to all teachers who have walked the extra mile to transform the lives of the learners and who have contributed to the development of the state.

She appealed to all teachers to be role models, not only transacting knowledge, but instill values, ethics, critical and creative thinking, problem solving skills and encourage them to think out of the box.

Teachers’ Day greetings from Nagaland Governor, La Ganesan and Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio was also read out at the celebration.

On the occasion, 18 teachers were honoured with State Level Teachers Award. The Awards was handed over by Advisor for School Education & SCERT, Dr Kekhrielhoulie Yhome and other dignitaries present.