State Level Teachers’ Day was celebrated at Capital Cultural Hall, Kohima on 5th September. The programme was graced by Chief Minister, Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio was the special guest, who presented the State Teacher’s Award 2022 to twenty (20) teachers and also awarded the Chief Minister’s Meritorious Student’s Fellowship to the Top 50 students in order of merit, of the HSLC Examinations 2020 and 2021.
Greeting the teachers on the occasion, Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio 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 the society, Rio said that teachers play a huge role in shaping the future of the society, state and country.
Rio informed that the Digital Teacher’s Diary is being initiated to enable government teachers to record their progress in classroom teaching learning transactions, and 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 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 the 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 desiring to take up teaching.
Advisor, School Education, K. T. Sukhalu expressed his gratitude to the teachers, and stated that the present progress of the State can be credited to the dedicated teachers who have shaped and moulded the leaders and thinkers of our society. With the role of teachers rapidly evolving, from teaching in the conventional mode of contact teaching to various mediums during the pandemic, he commended the many teachers who stayed in station and continued to give their best.
Sukhalu also called out those teachers who have been keeping proxies, and said that they not only are bad role models but also compromise the future of students, of generations and of the future of the State. He strongly condemned such practices and said that if there are teachers who do not want to serve, they should immediately resign rather than sacrifice the future of the students. He appealed to all the Deputy Commissioners to take strict action, and engage the administrative offices to visit the schools, and submit the report of proxy teachers to the Department so that action can be taken. He also informed that under various initiatives of 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. He stated that professional development, improving and strengthening capacities of educators/teachers/ school administrators to deliver better in classroom transaction/ work place are regular activities now, and that new areas will be explored to build complementary skills for personal and professional growth of teachers.
On the occasion, the Teacher’s Day Flag was unfurled by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. National anthem was presented by students of T. M. Government Higher Secondary School Kohima, and a special song was presented by students of Mt. Sinai Higher Secondary School, Kohima. Invocation was pronounced by Rev. Kelhuseto Nagi, Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, Phezhu, Jotsoma. Welcome address was delivered by Commissioner & Secretary, School Education and SCERT, Kevileno Angami and vote of thanks was delivered by Principal Director, Directorate of School Education, School Education, Thavaseelan K, IAS.
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 Ruzhukhrie Government Higher Secondary School, Kohima. Honouring of teachers by the students of Little Flower Higher Secondary School, Kohima, and tribute to teachers by students of Pilgrim Higher Secondary School, Kuda ‘B’ Dimapur were the other highlights of the programme.
On the occasion, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio launched the Nagaland Reading Festival, Digital Teachers’ Diary, and ASSET-Question-A-Day (AQAD).
The programme was attended by Advisor, Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, Neikiesalie Nicky Kire; Advisor, School Education, K. T. Sukhalu; Advisor, Tourism and Art & Culture, Khehovi Yepthomi; Advisor, Election and Higher Education, Medo Yhokha; MLA Yitachu; MLA Khriehu Liezietsu; senior government officials, teachers, students etc.
(Mhonlumi, APRO and Nouneseno, IA)
