Government Primary School, Mangkolong in Mopungchuket village is in need of upgrades in the number of classrooms and overall facilities. During an inspection on August 6, 2024, by the Ao Students’ Conference (AKM), they found that at Government Primary School Mangkolong, established in 2015, the infrastructure was in a deplorable state.
“While the school has seen some improvements through community and church contributions, and minor renovations funded by NECTAR, it continues to face severe shortages in both classrooms and teachers,” the AKM stated in a press release. It was also observed that much of the existing infrastructure has been provided by the community, with minimal government support.
The AKM also noted that the building’s condition is deteriorating and only has a limited number of classrooms. In one classroom, two subjects are taught simultaneously due to space constraints. Currently, only four teachers handle more than six subjects each day, AKM reported.
The AKM has been inspecting government schools across Mokokchung district over the past few weeks, visiting 32 schools so far to assess performance, student-to-teacher ratios, and infrastructure conditions. Their goal is to advocate for quality education and address issues such as dropout rates and teacher shortages.
According to the AKM, these findings underscore the urgent need for addressing critical shortages in classrooms and teaching staff. “Additional teachers should be posted to improve the student-to-teacher ratio and ensure effective teaching,” the AKM said. The apex student organization has called for immediate action to address these issues and ensure that all schools are equipped to provide high-quality education.
It further informed that AKM will come out with comprehensive data after all the schools are inspected and will be put forward for necessary actions.