Mokokchung, 5 September (MTNews): The Teachers’ Day in 2023 brought immense joy to educators and could contribute positively to Nagaland’s education system as Dr Kekhrielhoulie Yhome, the Advisor for School Education and SCERT, announced a series of significant transformative policy changes. However, the most noteworthy statement from the advisor was, “Teachers are not slaves; they cannot afford to work six days a week,” and directed all schools, especially private ones, to discontinue regular classes on all Saturdays.
“All Saturdays will be strictly observed as holidays. Teachers are not slaves; they cannot afford to spend six days a week teaching. They need time for their families. Children too need time and an environment that is outside the classroom for holistic development,” emphasized the Advisor during the State-level Teachers’ Day Celebration on 5 September 2023 at the NBCC Convention Hall in Kohima.
Furthermore, Dr Yhome disclosed that admission to Government Higher Secondary Schools would prioritize students from government high schools, with a memorandum of agreement in the works to formalize this arrangement.
Another significant policy change involves both private and government schools adhering to a structured Sports Week. This will encompass events from district-level competitions to inter-district and All-Nagaland Sports Meets, aimed at identifying and nurturing talents for national and international representation. Dr Yhome mentioned ongoing discussions with the Nagaland Olympic Association and the Department of Youth Resource and Sports to collaborate and allocate resources for organizing these common sports events.
In response to local needs, Dr Yhome encouraged rural schools to adapt their class schedules according to the seasons and even suggested commencing classes at 6:00 a.m., recognizing that many morning hours go to waste due to “inordinate” time zones.
Moreover, he passionately urged schools and teachers to combat drug abuse. He also said that, in the upcoming academic year, the Department of Health and Family Welfare will introduce mandatory School Children Health Cards, ensuring that every child can access medical attention conveniently at their school.
To bring dignity to the Heads of Institutions, Dr Yhome announced the replacement of the nomenclature “Teacher In-Charge” in primary schools with a new designation. Additionally, he said, plans are underway to introduce a “Common Teachers Training” for which consultations with SCERT, NBSE, Samagra Shiksha, and other relevant departments are in progress.