The missing spirit of competition 

Y Merina Chishi
 

The State Level National Talent Search Examination popularly known as NTSE was recently held across the country including Nagaland. The examination is meant to identify talented students who want to pursue higher education in science and social studies streams with scholarship. Students studying in class 10th in government, private-aided, private -unaided and local body schools across the country sit for the exam annually. The scholarship is also available for undergraduate, post graduate up to PhD level. The students who apply for NTSE scholarship are selected on the basis of qualification in written test, project report and interview.  


It is disheartening to note that in the recently conducted exam in NTSE Dimapur centre, barely 30% Nagas sit for the test. Few Naga students who took the exam were mainly from government schools. Only a dozen or so students were from private schools. 


The question therefore is: are Naga students not aware of the scholarship exam or are they simply not interested in appearing for it? Was the information not disseminated properly or do the students simply lack the drive to appear for the scholarship exam? Whatever be the reason, the lackadaisical attitude of the students towards academic scholarship is not encouraging to see.  


Every year there is hue and cry among students and student organisation in Nagaland for release of scholarship. Students are worried about their grant- in- aid from the government, but when there are opportunities placed before them to fund their education, not everyone has the will to try for that which is not guaranteed. Free grants given by the government is probably killing the competitive spirit in the students.  


Many Naga parents who constantly nitpick about inadequate opportunities for their children should also teach them to cultivate their intelligence through competition. For by avoiding competition, children will never develop the attitude of attaining success. Whether the child wins or loses is immaterial; the point is that it would instill and builds up competitive character in the children and help them go a long way in life. 


As students spend a considerable amount of time in schools, teachers must also encourage students to build a competitive spirit and apply for various education scholarships. This will instill a sense of self-reliance in them and can alter their determination and willingness to face any competition in life. Students in Nagaland are not lacking in terms of quality education. The Nagaland Board of School Education’s curriculum is at par with any other in India. So if we have come this far, it would be encouraging to see our children apply for the many scholarships that are around. 


Comments can be sent to merinachishi@gmail.com