Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 5
Along with the rest of the country, Nagaland today accorded high respect and honour to teachers on the occasion of Teacher’s Day.
In a state level teachers’ day celebration held here this morning at NBCC Convention Centre, minister for school education and SCERT Nyeiwang Konyak congratulated 31 recipients of Teachers Day Award and all other successful teachers at various levels. He recalled that 5th September was dedicated to Dr. S. Radhakrishnan who was a staunch believer of education, a well-known diplomat, scholar, President of India and above all a teacher. This day is thus a reflection of his love for attachment to the teaching profession the minister added.
Nyeiwang said that education department is the second biggest department in the state which has been expanded over the years. Many departments such as SCERT, Higher Education, Youth Resources & Sports have been carved out and became full-fledged directorates. He further said that the restructuring of the educational set up at all level by the state government open up the channel of promotion for teachers and create new avenues and upgrade the welfare and service incentives for the teachers as the department envisages. The establishment of Higher Secondary school has resulted in many of the students getting admitted in different streams. While well educated teachers are appointed at class-II Gazetted status and as such getting new avenues of employment opportunities.
The minister also said that the staffing pattern for all categories of schools were being contemplated and necessary rearrangement was envisaged in order to remedy the disparity and unequal distribution of the teachers in schools which effects the students as well as the teachers.
In line with the Right to Education Act 2009 and its vision that students get education at the shortest possible distance from home, said Nyeiwang. More than 100 Government Middle Schools were upgraded to full fledged Government Higher Secondary Schools and several government primary school have in term been upgraded to government middle school which have also provided accommodation to the teachers. The upgradation were being made possible due to the national scheme of flagship programmes like SSA and RMSA.
Nyeiwang also said that as per RTE, No Detention Policy has been introduced in the State from this year which requires greater involvement and participation of teachers in the process of continuous and compressive evaluation. Nyeiwang said that it is mandatory for the teachers to get themselves trained and it is obligatory for the department to appoint only trained persons as teachers. “Henceforth, only professionally trained persons will considered for regular appointment as teachers,” the minister said.
As per the National Council of Teachers Education (NCTE) norm for all the teachers should possess professional qualification such as B.Ed or PSTE he added. With this aim in view, a B.Ed College has been established in Mokokchung this year and the opening of a DIET in each district is in the process he also said. The minister urged upon the teachers to rededicate themselves and their life with a professional zeal and work for the people as a missionary. He further said with increasing development and ever advancing technology, the present society need a informed teachers who can be role model, saying that the future generation and the society we want for tomorrow is in their hands.
Later, the minister declared September 6, 2012 as holiday for all the schools all over Nagaland on account of teachers’ day. The function was chaired by T. Imkonglemba Ao, IAS, commissioner & secretary for school education and SCERT. B. Tingshem K, director (SE) delivered welcome address while Kiremwati Ao, Retired Director (SE) shared greetings. Honouring teachers by students of Don Bosco Higher secondary School Kohima, welcome song by students of Baptist Higher Secondary School Kohima, special song (Hindi) by Hindi Higher Secondary School, Kohima Village, dance by Government Middle School, Merhülietsa, “I Love my Teacher” by Christ King Higher Secondary School, Kohima, solo by Thejasenuo Kire of Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Kohima, special presentation by Kokliba Jings, Naga Orpheus Hunt Winner 2011 and cultural dance by Little Flower Higher Secondary School, Kohima also marked the occasion.
The function concluded with vote of thanks proposed by Vikepelhou Meyase, director (HSS).
The national teacher’s awardees from Nagaland included L. Chubala Aier, GMS Mokokchung town and Atovi Sumi, GHS Akuhato.
In best three discipline schools award, Dainty Buds School, Mount Hermon School and Grace School Kohima bagged Ist, 2nd and 3rd position respectively. In Best Teacher’s Day banner schools, GHSS Kohima, Christ King HSS, Kohima and Model HSS Kohima bagged Ist, 2nd and 3rd position respectively.
