RAZEBA, APRIL 26 (MExN): Minister for School Education & SCERT, Yitachu on Wednesday said the Department of School Education is the richest department with 24% of the state budget being consumed by it while the remaining 80 plus departments in the state are running their activities on 76% of the state budget. Addressing the inaugural programme of the new Government High School (GHS) building in Razeba, he impressed upon the gathering that it is important to realize why emphasis on budgetary provisions is given in this regard.
Pointing to the transformation brought about in the society with the dawn of education, he said that not only the state of Nagaland but the world over has given special emphasis on it while also asserting that, “education is the backbone of human civilization.”
Yitachu further stated that education does not only come from school institutions but also from the home, church, social gatherings, work place etc. He therefore stressed on the need for equal participation and interest from parents, society leaders, and general public as a whole to take equal responsibility in educating students.
In the meantime, stating that school dropout rate is very high, Yitachu disclosed that 1 out of 3 students is a dropout which, he maintained, does not bode well for the Naga society.
Arguing that the failure is not of the education department or the teachers alone, the Minister insisted that citizens have to share the responsibility equally.
He cited the success story of the cultivation of cabbage and potatoes (which Razeba area is especially known for), and said that the vegetables cannot grow by themselves but need daily care and nurturing. “Education is just like that,” he insisted while emphasizing that students need constant nurturing. “We need to take the education system seriously to end the dropout rate,” he added.
Towards this, Yitachu called for a stop to the demands for opening new schools or upgrade of schools “only for the sake of job opportunities” and not for the purpose of quality education. “Only then, we can fulfill our vision” of eliminating the dropout rate, he maintained.
Also highlighting the huge shortage of Math and Science teachers in the state, the Minister called on every institution/VEC in Nagaland to report the shortage of teachers in these subjects to the department.
Parliamentary Secretary for Higher & Technical Education, Deo Nukhu also spoke on the occasion and noted that the first batch of the GHS Razeba achieved nil result in the HSLC examinations (2013) but added that the school fared better the following year(s). In this regard, Nukhu expressed hope that the school will continue to maintain the standard of school education. Further urging the students to study hard, especially Mathematics and Science, he assured that the students securing distinction in these two subjects will be given awards.
In his short speech, Khazi Lea, President of Razeba Public Organisation (RPO) contrasted the current state of Razeba with what it was 50 years ago. He impressed upon the gathering that the school grew from humble beginnings and has brought about social reformation, economic development, spiritual education and also better relationship amongst the 3 villages in the area.
Senokhape Chirie, Headmaster informed that the Government Middle School was upgraded to Government High School in 2010. Since then, the enrolment has been increasing, he said and further disclosed that the school has 19 teaching staff and 3 grade IV staff. He also gave a brief highlight of performance of the school in the last 5 years.
To mark the inaugural of the new school building, the Minister for School Education & SCERT, Yitachu also cut the ribbon and unveiled the monolith. A host of dignitaries including officials from the school education department, officers from Razeba area, village leaders from Zhavame, Zelome and Tsüpfume, student leaders, etc attended the inaugural programme.
