Kohima, June 8 (MExN): The Governor of Nagaland K Sankaranarayanan today cautioned of the consequences the academic careers of students would suffer if the glaring holes in the state’s educational system are not remedied. The governor was referring to the anomaly that about 60% of Nagaland’s teachers are untrained.
The governor was speaking at a function today held to facilitate toppers of HSLC and HSSLC 2009 at Raj Bhavan. Cash awards of Rs.25, 000 to each of the four toppers were given away while the creation of an Endowment Fund of Rs.13.00 lakhs was announced by the governor. This pool is to ensure cash awards of Rs.25, 000 to all future toppers of HSLC and HSSLC. The awardees are HSLC topper Vepilu Chuzho, HSSLC (Arts) topper Tainla Longchar, HSSLC (Commerce) topper Pintu Debnath, and HSSLC (Science) topper Roshan Gupta.
“While we savor the achievements of the students who are here”, the governor said referring to the merit students, “we should not forget about the many – especially from our rural and remote districts – whose performance has not been satisfactory”. Analyzing the reasons for many students’ poor performance, the governor said the large number of untrained teachers is the predominant cause of all the educational hindrances.
“I am sure a predominant one would be the quality of the teaching in the schools. About 60% of our government teachers in elementary schools are untrained and this hampers the efforts to substantially enhance the quality of classroom interaction” the governor reminded. He advised the “concerned functionaries” to pay adequate attention to this very pertinent issue and ensure that the students are not put in such “disadvantageous position”.
The same issue of quality, he said should be addressed in Nagaland’s higher educational institutions as well as in the vocational and technical colleges. If the issue is addressed, he implied ‘we may have many in the near future in our state’. Here Sankaranarayanan reminded all in concern that the nature of competition the state’s students are going to face is not restricted only to the national level. “In fact it goes beyond that to the global level. You have to be best in the truest and widest sense in whatever you are doing for making a mark in today’s world. Let me tell you all that any lackadaisical approach towards quality at any level is going to be detrimental to the career and future of our students,” Sankaranarayanan cautioned.
To the students, Sankaranarayanan advised them that their present success is commendable, but should not lull them into thinking that nothing further remains to be done.
“Do not entertain the impression that whatever ever needed to be done, has been done by you. Rather this attainment should be an inspiration and spur you to take up even higher and bigger challenges and succeed,” he told them. “Always remember –success is a journey not a destination. Your journey continues and so your trials and tests,” the governor added.
The governor also appreciated all the wonderful teachers whose contribution in helping the successful students reach the top pedestal. “I would like each one of you to thank your sincere teachers who I am sure would have put in their best to see you shine like this. Also spare your thought for your loving parents who have given you so much to see you happy like this” he said in congratulation.
The governor has announced an endowment fund which will be invested and the interest income would be utilized for giving cash awards of Rs 25, 000 every year to each of the toppers of HSLC and HSSLC examination in each of the three streams. “I am happy to place an amount of Rs 13.00 lakhs in the endowment fund and a permanent committee consisting of Chairman NBSE, Secretary to Governor and Director School Education is being constituted which will oversee the fund and ensure the fulfillment of the aims for which the fund has been created on a continual basis” he said.
