The NECTAR project under the Department of School Education conducted a one-day training and orientation on Environmental and Social Standards (ESS) for contractors of all 16 Lighthouse School Complexes (LSCs) that are set to be established across the 16 districts of Nagaland. The event took place on Monday at Japfü Hotel, Kohima.
Nagaland Chief Secretary and Chairman of the Project Steering Committee, NECTAR, Dr. J. Alam, IAS, delivered the keynote address, describing the project as a “watershed for Nagaland.” Highlighting the significance of the initiative, he said, “The stakes are high given the status of school education in Nagaland and the expectations from the project.”
Alam added that the project’s pioneering initiatives, supported by the World Bank, “will serve as a model not only for Nagaland but for the rest of the country.”
Emphasizing transparency in the project’s execution, Alam mentioned, “The contractors were selected on their merit, and the project is being implemented with transparency.” He urged the contractors to uphold the project’s standards, stating, “Nagaland should set positive examples rather than falling behind.” He called on them to complete the construction works “expeditiously and to a high standard, so that it will be talked about even in the future.”
Joint Secretary, DSE & Deputy Project Director, NECTAR, Avelu Ruho, NCS, introduced the project’s scope to the contractors. She noted that the LSC concept was envisioned during the tenure of former Principal Secretary of School Education, Menukhol John, to address the challenges faced by government schools in Nagaland.
“The concept of LSCs as hub schools with modern facilities and enhanced teaching-learning practices catering to neighboring spoke schools would elevate the state of government schools,” Ruho said. She described the setting up of LSCs as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” and encouraged construction firms to “render their best services in the interest of our children’s future.”
In his opening remarks, Director, DoSE & Assistant Project Director, NECTAR, Razouseyi Vese, highlighted that the concept of hub schools with students from surrounding villages “existed in the past,” producing many “technocrats, educators, and eminent personalities.” He stressed the need to “revive the past glory of government schools through the Lighthouse School Complexes.”
Vese urged the contractors not to compromise on quality, saying, “It will be for the benefit of our children and our society.” He also assured construction firms of full support and emphasized the importance of timely execution of the works.
Experts from the Project Management Unit led sessions on “Social Standards and Safeguards” and “Environmental Standards and Safeguards.” They underscored the importance of adhering to the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Standards (ESS) to “minimize the negative impact of the project and maximize benefits for the community and the environment.”