Following the publication of the news report titled ‘Collective action at ITI Mokokchung: Staff and students unite for facility renovation’ by this newspaper on Thursday, a spark of renewed interest in skills development in Mokokchung seems to have emerged among citizens with concerned individuals sharing their views on various social media platforms. Opinions on the lack of government support for the upkeep of the GITI Mokokchung were also shared aplenty.
While the news of staff and students of Government ITI Mokokchung contributing voluntary donations and labor to renovate the facility won many hearts, some raised the question as to why the faculty and students have to “scrounge up the required funds to maintain their institution.”
“It is even sadder that neither the local public, the Naga society, including frontal organizations or elected representatives raise such issues. Not just for ITI but all our state and central institutions,” a commentator said.
“It’s even more disheartening that, despite being aware of the government’s failure to fulfil its duties, the public in general, civil society and stakeholders often choose to remain silent rather than hold the government accountable,” another commented.
Describing it as a “deeply troubling practice,” the same commentator added that it was “primarily due to a fear of damaging their relationship with the people in the government; no one wants to jeopardize that connection for the sake of the greater good.”
Exploring Mokokchung as a skills hotspot
Mokokchung has emerged as a hotspot for labor from neighboring districts, presenting an opportunity for the district to leverage and re-establish itself as a “pioneering center for skill development,” a commentator observed.
It was revealed that Mokokchung currently has only one institute dedicated to imparting skills, while there are over 400 schools.
“It is high time our people recognize the critical importance of skills and prioritize skill development initiatives. We cannot solely rely on government jobs anymore, and with a growing number of educated yet unemployed youth, our economy will struggle to grow unless we focus on equipping our young population with relevant skills,” he added.
It was also revealed that the recent Mega Job Expo held on January 30-31 at Fazl Ali College, Mokokchung highlighted the immense demand for skilled and certified workers, but unfortunately, there were very few local candidates who met the criteria.
“If our district can concentrate on systematically developing a strong skills ecosystem, we can witness abundant growth and prosperity,” the commentator added.
The idea of leveraging Mokokchung’s position as a labor hub for neighboring districts to revive its status as a leading skill imparting center was also explored.
“By strategically investing in skill-based education, training, and certification programs, our district can empower the youth, reduce unemployment, and become self-reliant in meeting the skill requirements of the region,” it was observed.
“This is a critical juncture where Mokokchung must capitalize on its advantageous position and transform itself into a premier skill development hub, driving sustainable economic progress for the district and the wider region,” the observer elaborated.
Another observer seconded that this is absolutely the right way to go. “We should do pioneering work on producing skilled citizens who can earn a livelihood by working/using their hands on skills. We need plenty of people skilled on the sectors offered by ITI,” he surmised.
Perception must change
As the discourse continued, focus shifted to the negative perception people have about those who attend non-formal educational institutions like skills training institutes and open schools. While the common refrain was that formal education is not the only path to progress, an observer commented that perceptions do play a big role.
“For example even the perception of people studying in NIOS is looked down upon. It is perceived that only those who are bad in studies go for NIOS. Maybe it is because once upon a time, people literally paid the centers to cheat and pass. But that is corruption of our own people and not because the system is bad. For those not aware, NIOS is a much sought after option for a lot of high achievers, especially those into business, sports, or other productive activities. It has one of the best choices of subjects and its certificate is recognized internationally. I know because both my daughters passed from NIOS and one went to study in the US with that certificate,” a participant in the discourse added.
Nonetheless, a commentator observed that some ITI trainees graduate without them having learnt any real skills. “It seems to be just a certificate to enable them to apply for jobs and not to equip them for working for a living. I don’t mean Mokokchung ITI, but some others.”