108 presented with Chief Minister’s Meritorious Students’ Fellowship

Morung Express News
Kohima | August 24

The Chief Minister’s Meritorious Students’ Fellowship (CMMSF) was presented to 108 students at a programme held today at the Capital Convention Centre, Kohima.

Sixteen boys and 41 girls (57 students) from HSLC 2023 and 37 girls and 14 boys (51 students) from HSLC 2024 were given cheque and citation by the Advisor of School Education & SCERT, Dr Kekhrielhoulie Yhome. 

The fellowship for the best 50 top individual performers in the Class X Board Examination i.e. HSLC Examination conducted by the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) was instituted in 2019 with the objective to motivate as well as support the students.

Since then, it was informed that 208 students have already benefited and are receiving the instalments from the government.

The first felicitation was held on January 31, 2020 and the best 50 students of HSLC 2019 (in fact 55 students because of ties in marks & ranks) were awarded with the first instalment of Rs 50,000 along with certificate at a function held in Kohima where the Chief Minister felicitated the achievers.

Subsequently, the next year due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the second edition for 2020 was held virtually on July 21, 2021 at the Chief Minister's Office. The fellowship amount, it said was transferred to the personal account of the recipients to the 51 eligible candidates.

50 students from HSLC 2021 and 52 students from HSLC 2022 were awarded with the fellowship grant on September 5, 2022.

Disparity in access to quality education concerning: Dr Yhome 
Addressing the students, Dr Yhome maintained that although the amount may not be huge, it not only serves as recognition, but also as encouragement for others. He noted that the recipients represent the promising future of Nagaland's youth.

Noting the trends of education in Nagaland, he expressed concern that though the State has made significant strides, the disparity between urban and rural areas in terms of access to quality education.

“Our achievers are mostly from the urban areas,” he added. 

Further noting the state’s geographical challenges which hinder access to essential services, Dr Yhome asserted "it is our dream to spread education to every nook and corner, even to the most remote villages along the borders."

The Advisor informed that 1439 students had passed the HSLC exam in Mon this year but there were no places for them to study further, especially after a Central government notification in 2023 stating that that colleges will not be allowed to take Class 11 and 12 enrolments.  The State government, he said, was not prepared and were doing quick remedial stop-gap arrangements.

Stating that Nagaland has the highest drop-out in the country, he reminded the students that they are the privileged lots among the many students, and that it is their responsibility to give back to the society.

Urging them to ponder on ‘what will become of their peers and contemporaries’, the students were told “Your achievements become meaningless when you don’t give back to the society,” Chairperson, NBSE, Asano Sekhose said, over the years, the recognition given by the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio in instituting CMMSF to the top 50 students at HSLC exam have been highly sought after by the students’ community.

This, she said, is creating an eco-system in the education sector where excellence is worth pursuing.

Sekhose also reminded the students that to continue to avail the fellowship, students should continue to score not less than 80% marks in the promotion/annual/semester exams in the succeeding classes/grades every year. 

Non fulfilment of the criteria, she informed will lead to discontinuation of grant of CMMSF.