Kohima, 8 June (MTNews): In a state-level coordination and review meeting organized by the Nagaland Education Mission Society, Advisor for School Education and SCERT, Dr Kekhrielhoulie Yhome emphasized the need for reduced political interference in the education sector. During his address at the two-day event, Dr Yhome highlighted concerns regarding appointments, transfers, and postings in the education department, pointing out that many employees were politically appointed.
Drawing attention to the issue, Dr Yhome revealed that approximately 2,000 to 3,000 teachers out of the total 19,000 teachers in Nagaland were utilizing political influence for their appointments. He further highlighted the inequitable distribution of postings, stating that individuals with political connections were often favored for positions in Dimapur and Kohima, while those without such influence were relegated to remote areas until their retirement.
To address this disparity, Dr Yhome advocated for fair and equitable opportunities for all education professionals. He proposed the compartmentalization of the 35 years of service, emphasizing the need for a more balanced and transparent system.
In addition to concerns about political interference, Dr Yhome raised the issue of gender disparity in education. He expressed his worries about parents favoring their sons’ education over their daughters’, especially in primary and middle schools. To combat this practice, he stressed the importance of engaging village councils, student unions, and community leaders to promote education for girls. He further highlighted the legal obligation of parents to educate their children and warned of potential punishments for non-compliance.
Dr Yhome also announced an ambitious target of bringing back 100,000 students to government schools within the next two years. With a current student population of 400,000 from primary to secondary levels, both in private and government institutions, he underscored the importance of providing quality education in government schools.
Furthermore, Dr Yhome mentioned ongoing efforts to study successful primary schooling systems in countries like New Zealand and rural China. He emphasized the need to focus on pre-primary and primary education, urging the establishment of more primary schools, particularly in unrecognized villages.
Commissioner & Secretary of School Education SCERT and Vice Chairman of NEMS, Kevileno Angami, also addressed the gathering. She commended the improvements in school education indicators observed from 2020 to 2022, such as increased transition rates and reduced dropout rates at the elementary and secondary levels. Angami attributed these achievements to the collective efforts of education stakeholders, including teachers, officials, and implementing bodies like the SSM.