Dr Kekhrielhoulie Yhome with Dr Martin Kasper and Nikunj Jhaveri in Kohima on October 9. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | October 9
Germany based Childaid Network and Mumbai based Rotary Club of Queens Necklace in association with the Department of School Education, Government of Nagaland is all set to roll out some major educational initiatives to strengthen government schools and improve the quality of education in the state.
The proposed collaboration aims to usher sound finances, technical expertise and institutional support to strengthen government schools and expand educational opportunities for children in Nagaland.
This was announced by Dr Martin Kasper, president of Childaid Network Foundation, Nikunj Jhaveri, President Rotary Club of Queens Necklace Mumbai and Nagaland School Education Advisor Dr Kekhrielhoulie Yhome during a press conference at Hotel Vivor, Kohima.
Dr Yhome said that such outcome has arrived after series of discussion with the delegations of Childaid Network Foundation, Germany, Rotary Club of Queens Necklace Mumbai and Mantra4Change/Shikshalokam since October 5 in Nagaland.
“They had a range of exposure to our school ecosystems,” he said adding that they were here on serious work and thanked them for their visit to Nagaland for a purpose.
Stating that they are highly networked globally, he said “We hope that we will be able to engage more of their partnerships and networks to bring in high-quality systems in place.”
“We have discussed issues which have to go beyond states intervention, and for that we need division of knowledge, we need high level interventions,” he said.
Over the next couple of months, he said, we hope to be rolling out lots of high level interventions in our schools to prepare our future skills for our children.
He said the team also met Hekani Jakhalu, advisor Industries & Commerce, Govt of Nagaland.
“We are sending our children to Germany for work and exposure also,” he said.
“We have put in a lot of discussion points, not just from skilling, but also to bring digital infrastructures into our classrooms, early child care and education interventions to vocational educations, teachers' interventions in classrooms, as well as a lot of issues which will globally prepare us to align with the world,” Dr. Yhome said.
He said that with lack of resources, especially without knowledge partners, it is difficult to bring in high-quality interventions.
In the next couple of months, we will be checking out what are deliverable possibilities, he said.
‘Not only just funding, but also opening doors’
Visiting Nagaland for the first time, Nikunj Jhaveri said that after meeting the students and teachers, “we want to make a change, and we want to make our children change so that they can actually grow Nagaland and be the future of Nagaland.”
I am committed with my team and my entire Rotary Club to be here for the long run, he declared.
Jhaveri said that they have Elevate Foundation who has been a big partner with the system and also MANTRA4CHANGE- ShikshaLokam.
“We will work with all of them and our role is going to be not only just funding, but also opening doors,”
Stating that one of the first steps is going to be creating the roadmap, he said “we are very committed to a long-term window.”
This is going to be a five-year plan at the minimum, he said.
“This is going to be a combined venture between Child Aid and Rotary. So it's an interesting blend of philanthropy from domestic, philanthropy from international, all coming together for the northeast.
Nagaland is one of our prime locations we are all going to focus on,” Jhaveri said
Childaid to help children get quality education
Dr Kasper said “We have been attracted by the Northeast, by the wealth of nature, spirit of the people, energy of the youth and by their sparkling eyes.”
We as Childaid Network team, we are here to help children get quality education, he said.
Presently, he said, Childaid Network operates in about 1500 project locations all across the Northeast.
He said that their trip to Nagaland was meant to explore in more depths what they can do to help the Naga children succeed and build their future.
Dr. Kasper pointed out that there are still some gaps which need to be addressed to perform sufficiently well to be able to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Expressing delight for associating with the state government, he said “We want to help the government systems succeed and play sort of a catalytical role in terms of funding, knowledge sharing, networking, challenging, monitoring and whatever is required.”
Stating that he along with wife have started this private NGO (ChildAid Network) 20 years back with own capital, he said “We decided that we would invest money for children that needed support.”
And since then, I've been coming to the northeast and we've worked with different local partners, he said.
Childaid Network has spent about 2 to 3 million euros a year on education. The focus always has been on education.
“We started with bridging courses for youth that were never able to go to primary school. Now, we focus on improving teaching and success rates of government schools,” Dr. Kasper said.
One example is to change the teaching style into project-based learning so that children have fun and take energy and are motivated and don't forget that easily, he said.
We are results-oriented, so we are not just here for charity. We are here for reaching success, he said adding that they do not only come as philanthropists but as friends and want to improve the knowledge about each other and the connections and build strong bonds.
Stating that the projects will focus exclusively for government schools at the initial stage, Dr. Kasper said “But, step by step, we want to reach all schools in Nagaland.”
