Morung Express News Kohima | November 1 The All Nagaland Private Schools’ Association (ANPSA) held its 33rd Annual General Body meeting on November 1 at De Oriental Grand, Kohima under the theme ‘Towards Excellence’. The conference stressed on New Education Policy (NEP) highlights, minimum wages/custody of Class-9 question papers, central grants for minority institutions. Bithungo Kikon, President mentioned that in the last three years, private schools produced 80 pass percentage in HSLC exams under NBSE. Despite the achievement, Kikon said, “When we look at the poor condition that our state is in, be it roads, electricity, water and the way we are being governed, I want all of us to be very honest with ourselves and ask this question introspectively, ‘Have we really achieved what we want in our society to be? Or are we just producing stereotype, exam result oriented children with no moral or ethical values?” A major concern highlighted was unemployment, which according to Kikon, “is a ticking time bomb which once it explodes will cause a lot of hardship.” However, Kikon stated that ANPSA should take pride in the fact that it is not only providing education to children but each school has become employment centers, giving employment to thousands and providing livelihood. The success of private institutions lies in its autonomy to function independently, which comes with responsibility, it was added. Kikon also mentioned that there have been instances where schools have abused this privilege and for which due actions was initiated on them. “The way the education policies that are being implemented or are going to be implemented should be a concern for all as it will infringe our autonomy which is our very existence which calls for a strong ANPSA. Only when ANPSA is strong then we can unitedly pursue policy changes not to suit our individual interest but the interest of our children for posterity sake,” asserted Kikon. The aims and objectives of ANPSA and enrolment of new members was delivered by Pheluopfhelie Kesiezie, Advisor ANPSA, who mentioned that private schools cater to 75 % of High School students in Nagaland. While Nagaland invests in 1000 crores for education in the State, the Grant-in-aid that private schools receive is less than one crore, stated Kesiezie. “.1 percent is insufficiently given to a body of schools which cater to 75 % of High School students in Nagaland,” asserted Kesiezie. Lydia Lepcha, Riverine Public School, Ura Village shared on Central grants for minority institutions stressing on Scheme for Infrastructure Development in Minority Institutions (IDMI) under the Ministry for Human Resource Development. All minority institutions having at least 20 % of minority population are eligible for IDMI.
