The training was held at the Directorate of School Education (DoSE), Kohima.
Delivering the welcome address, Shashank Pratap Singh (IAS), Principal Director of DoSE and Project Director of NECTAR, stated that the contractors had been selected on merit through a fair tendering process and urged them to execute quality work within stipulated timelines while adhering strictly to the Environmental and Social Standards mandated by the World Bank.
Kevileno Angami, Commissioner & Secretary, School Education and SCERT, and Vice Chairperson of the NECTAR Project Steering Committee, said the Department has envisioned the LSCs as well-equipped hubs for spoke schools in each district, particularly in view of the poor condition of many schools across Nagaland.
She stated that with support from the World Bank, the Department of Economic Affairs and the State Government, the LSCs are expected to strengthen school infrastructure and serve as model education centres.
Angami cautioned that delays or lapses in execution would directly affect stakeholders, including school children. She said that while attention is often given to outcomes, the environmental and social costs during implementation are frequently overlooked. In this regard, she called for strict adherence to all prescribed standards to avoid adverse impact on both the environment and local communities.
Dr Kekhrielhoulie Yhome, Advisor for School Education & SCERT, stated that given the “pitiful condition” of many rural schools, failure to complete the LSCs would be unfortunate. He said that as Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and multilateral development projects become increasingly common, it is necessary for the state to build competence in environmental and social compliance.
He added that future development projects would increasingly fall under global evaluation standards, and unless contractors adapt to these frameworks, the state’s ability to undertake similar projects could be affected.
The orientation covered compliance requirements related to labour welfare, workplace safety, health measures, prevention of sexual harassment, working conditions and environmental safeguards, among others.
The NECTAR project aims to establish Lighthouse School Complexes across districts to improve infrastructure and strengthen academic ecosystems by linking hub schools with surrounding institutions.