The State Level Teachers’ Day 2025 was celebrated today at the NBCC Convention Hall, Kohima, commemorating the birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, addressing the gathering, extended greetings to teachers across Nagaland and described them as “the backbone of our education system and the guiding light for our children.”
Tracing Nagaland’s educational journey, Rio recalled that when the state attained statehood in 1963, the literacy rate was 21.95%, “among the lowest in the country.” Today, he said, Nagaland has emerged as the third most literate state in India with 95.7%, behind only Kerala and Mizoram.
“This reflects the tireless efforts of our teachers, educationists and policy-makers,” he stated. According to Rio, the state presently has 2,734 schools, 32,801 teachers and 4,10,389 school-going children.
Highlighting reforms, the Chief Minister noted the progress made by the School Leadership Academy of Nagaland (SLAN), established in 2023, which is spearheading in-service teacher training and leadership development. He announced that the Nagaland State Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage Education (NSCFSE) is ready, while the Systems for Outstanding Achievements and Reformation (SOAR) Mission will soon be launched “to bring global standards into our curriculum, teaching, assessment, and school management.”
Rio said the government is also in the process of institutionalizing the Nagaland State School Standards Authority (NSSSA), mandated under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, to act as a regulatory body for quality benchmarks in schools. To guide this, the Nagaland School Quality Assessment and Assurance Framework (NSQAAF) is being drafted.
Another initiative, he said, is the introduction of music education at the elementary level, in convergence with the Department of TaFMA and Yamaha Inc. “This will provide students exposure to a globally benchmarked acoustic curriculum and open new avenues for creative growth,” he remarked. The Chief Minister also stressed the promotion of mother-tongue-based education, with collaboration with Nagaland University for the development and standardization of tribal languages, certification of language teachers, and production of literature.
He further stated that the Department of School Education is pioneering convergence with the Department of Social Welfare to strengthen foundational stage education. “These interventions must remain globally informed and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4 – Quality Education), National Education Policy 2020, NIPUN Bharat Mission, and UNESCO’s Education 2030 Agenda,” Rio pointed out.
Advisor for School Education and SCERT, Dr Kekhrielhoulie Yhome, emphasized strengthening the education system through infrastructure, governance, and improvement of the school ecosystem. With the vision of “No child left behind,” he stressed that every child, whether in urban or rural areas, “deserves access to quality education” and appealed to teachers to remain committed in their service.
Consul General of India in Vancouver, Canada, Masakui Rungsung, IFS, also addressed the gathering. He described teachers as “the cornerstone of society who impart knowledge, ignite curiosity, and nurture young minds,” adding that “behind every successful student is a teacher who believed, nurtured, and guided.”
During the program, the Chief Minister launched the “Mission SOAR, Nagaland” along with the introduction of music in the elementary section. Messages from the President of India, the Prime Minister, the Union Education Minister, and the Governor of Nagaland were also read out.
Thirteen teachers were presented with the State Teachers’ Award 2025, while four schools—Government Middle School, Dobagaon; Government Middle School, Naga New Model Sumi; St Joseph School, Tuensang Town; and The Vineyard, Kohima—received Recognition of Excellence in School Safety under SSB Phase 2.