Er Zale Neikha, Advisor, YRS (2nd from left, front row), Akumla Chuba, Director YRS (Middle front row), Hekani Jakhalu, Founder & Chair, YouthNet (2nd from Right, second row), Nuneseno Chase, Director of YouthNet (2nd from Right, front row) seen with others during the launch of LaunchPad Virtual Education & Career Fair on August 4. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express news
Kohima | August 4
LaunchPad, a path breaking initiative of the Department of Youth Resources and Sports in partnership with YouthNet and supported by the Department of School Education today began another milestone with the launch of virtual ‘Education and Career Fair’, which is open to all government schools HSSLC Students under LaunchPad program.
The program which took off last year is explicitly designed for students pursuing their class 12 in all government higher secondary schools across Nagaland with three main objectives of guiding students to discover their ideal career path, enabling them to look beyond career path and assisting student’s transition from school to work.
As per the Program Report highlighted by Nuneseno Chase, Director of YouthNet at an event held at the Directorate of Youth Resources & Sports this afternoon, a total number of 44 GHSS across 12 districts of Nagaland are being covered under this Program wherein 3394 students enrolled in Class 12 are part of the ‘Career Guidance and Employability Skill Development Program’ from April 2020 to October 2021.
Out of the 3394 students, 640 students have completed the LaunchPad Online Course while 1662 students are ‘in progress’ and 1092 students are yet to start owing to reasons such as lack of mobile phones or network connectivity. In LaunchPad Phase 1, which focused on “Discover Self,” students were introduced to self exploration, life skills, career developments and also oriented on self-employment and other free skill development training programmes.
During the LaunchPad Phase 2—“Discover Opportunities,” a two-day classroom session of 10 hours was implemented from January-March, 2021 in all the Government Higher Secondary Schools recording a total attendance of 2648 (78%) in the Phase 2.
LaunchPad Phase 3 will give students access to a platform where details of various educational institutions, potential employers and skill development training organisations will be provided through a virtual program on Education and Career Fair.
Launching the Fair, Er Zale Neikha, Advisor to the Department of Youth Resources & Sports commended YouthNet for all their hard work and dedication and successfully pulling through the first two phases of LaunchPad. “I hope that our Nagas will improve. I am sure and hopeful that students will cope up with your ideas through your initiative on Career Guidance”, he said.
He also announced the LaunchPad Awards, which were based on the academic performance and the participation of the students on the LaunchPad Platform that also looked at completion of lessons and assignments.
In this regard, 3 Smart Phones were awarded to Ethel A Konyak, Tizit GHSS, Mon, Leyang B N Shiu, Tuensang GHSS, and Ayimwati of Mayangnokcha GHSS, Mokokchung. Two students including Nithosano Nagi, Jotsoma GHSS and Dina Rai, Dimapur GHSS received laptops while 5 students including Rosy Konyak, Mon D GHSS, Tsarobi, Kiphire GHSS, Muthiam P, Noklak GHSS, T.Chijava, Bautung GHSS, Longleng and Numrangle Newmai of Jalukie GHSS Peren received Scholarships for Graduation.
The Best School Award was given to Tizit Government Higher Secondary School, Mon while Best Teacher Incharge Award went to Chubarenla Imsong of Bautung Government Higher Secondary School, Longleng for going the extra mile to help students in the LaunchPad Program.
Earlier in her welcome address, Akumla Chuba, Director of the Department of Youth Resources and Sports remarked that LaunchPad is a very important milestone and a long felt need of the department. She also stated appreciation to YouthNet for the successful completion of Phase I and II. Libemo Jami, Public Information Officer, Department of Youth Resources and Sports proposed the vote of thanks.
