Prof. G.T. Thong
Nagaland University
Kudos to all our Tall Visionary leaders who have given Nagaland a Literacy Rate higher than that of the National. And where does the stupid vision of the morons end? With the qualifications of many of our dear teachers. Under-Matriculates! Are you serious? Is this a cruel joke of the Tall Visionaries? It was so shocking to see the news on the front pages of the dailies (1st June 2017). Of course, the ruling dispensation will dispute the figures, which hardly matters as we all know that our State is in a very pathetic state. The river beds, oops.... streets of ‘The Mirror of Nagaland’ (Kohima), is pockmarked testimony.
The main concern of the Legislature and Bureaucracy is everything else except the welfare of the people. A small bunch of Tall Visionaries have siphoned off many tens of thousands of crores of rupees (many billion dollars), just within the last 15 years or so, and left a trail of devastation behind. There was extensive corruption before that as well, but not of this magnitude; perhaps less money in that bygone era! And to add salt to our wounds these Tall Visionaries talk against CORRUPTION and the importance of UNITY, which is the only word missing in their dictionaries.
We have GHOST teachers, PROXY teachers and BOGUS teachers. We also have BACKDOOR-APPOINTED teachers. Added to this growing list we now know that we also have UNDER-MATRIC teachers. This does not bode well for our state. A few rogue elements have held the whole state to ransom. The common man hoped that, once unearthed, these dubious characters (teachers) would be removed, but the government is least bothered. These elements are thriving with the blessings of their political masters, both over-ground and underground.
Good teachers will help build a strong and resilient society and help us advance rapidly. That is why advanced nations have invested in the best Teachers because of the simple fact that though ‘Good Teachers are costly, Bad Teachers cost more’ (Bob Talbert). But for us, it is a government job for the voter / post buyer (qualified or not) - to hell with the future generation.
It really is a pity that we do not see the importance of education. An appropriately educated society only can take us forward. Advanced societies have highly trained professionals (educators) right from the grassroots. In Nagaland, it is a totally different atmosphere. Many of the Government school teachers are appropriately qualified (some of them not getting paid for months on end are an entirely different matter). Some of them are just too lethargic or find it beneath their dignity to enter a classroom regularly or on time. Many of them have unqualified Proxies doing their jobs for a pittance while they are onto other lucrative ventures (contracts, supplies, etc.). Then we have a whole load of the Bogus category, whom none dare touch for their links with Tall Visionaries and/or notorious elements. The non-existent Ghost teachers also regularly draw their salaries from Non-Ghost establishments. On the other hand we have a vast sea of unqualified teachers (apologies to the few qualified ones) in the private schools who are forced to produce good HSLC/HSSLC results or face getting sacked. Though these people are ensuring the students pass the above exams, the children are not developed to take on the challenges of the modern world. There are too many inadequacies; these teachers are just not qualified for the job. Who will check this discrepancy? Do we have a Government?
The vision of these Tall Visionaries has managed to drag Nagaland deep into the muck. Just a small bunch of self-centered, greedy and selfish individuals are the reason for this. NAGALAND IS RIPE FOR A REVOLUTION. But... Future Generation, you who have lost your jobs in the Education and other departments to the back-door appointees, where art thou?
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