• 13,480 dropouts between Class II and Class IX
• 14,000 dropouts between Class IX and Class X
• Govt addressing lack of Math and Science teachers
Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 18
Nagaland Minister for School Education and SCERT, Yitachu, today said Naga society faces a huge challenge in the form of unprecedented number of school dropouts. “Almost two-thirds of our youth are school dropouts. How can our society progress with only one-third of students who are able to clear the secondary level?” Yitachu asked.
Addressing the 8th graduation ceremony of Faith Theological College (FTC) here at Town Hall, the Education minister said the education system in the State has gone wrong and stressed on the need to take corrective measures.
Giving latest statistics, the Minister said the enrolment of Class II students stood at 49,480 as against enrolment of 36,000 students in Class IX, indicating 13,480 drop outs between Class II and Class IX. Again the enrolment in Class X stood at 22,214, which indicated around 14,000 dropouts between Class IX and Class X.
Further, the minister said the number of drop out students between Class X and Class XII stood at 6,742, making the total number of dropout students between Class II and Class XII more than 36,000 out of 49,480.
The Minister said this dismal statistic implied that annually two-third of students become dropouts. Yitachu said there are a number of factors contributing to the drop out phenomenon including the non-detention policy not been implemented in the State of Nagaland. He however said one major factor is the conversion of Math and Science teacher posts to other subject teacher post.
The Minister said because of this, in many schools, there are no Math and Science teachers. “This is killing our future. Now the government has decided to freeze all posts of graduate teachers till the posts of Math and Science teachers are reverted to the original posts,” Yitachu said.
The Minister said most of the affairs in the State be it education, politics or religion are in a mess because Naga people have failed to fear the Lord in the first place. “We fear our friends, family, villagers, and tribes and so on but we don’t fear God. As Christians, we should put the fear of the Lord in the first place. Unless we do that, our society will not progress or change,” he said.
Earlier, auxiliary secretary, Bible Society of India, Dimapur, Rev. Dr. ZK Rochill, delivered the commencement address. Founder principal of FTC, Rev. Dr. S Gangte, officiated the ‘charge to the graduates’.
