Nagaland’s Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and others during the inauguration of GHS Meriema on February 14. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Meriema | February 14
Nagaland’s Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today stressed on the need to exercise collective responsibility to reform education system in the state.
Inaugurating Government High School Meriema near Kohima in the presence of School Education & SCERT Advisor Dr Kekhrielhoulie Yhome, he said that the school education department has been working on various mechanisms to streamline the functioning of schools the State.
Stating that the streamline processes is nothing to do against or favour someone, Rio called upon the public not to take it otherwise but to cooperate with the department for smooth transaction of the government policy.
Rio expressed deep concern over the poor academic performance of many government schools, causing bad image to the concerned department.
Government schools have highly qualified teachers than the private schools. However, when it comes to performance, it is quite the opposite, Rio said.
In this, Rio sought the support of the stakeholders to rebuild trust on government schools and bring back its good reputation as existed in the past.
Stating that the government has created a lot of assets in the state, he called upon the public to make the best use of the same.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister expressed happiness over the well maintenance, high school enrolment and good performance of GHS Meriema over the years.
He also lauded the contribution of Meriema Village Council towards construction of additional class rooms for the school.
Rio assured to take up the proposal for construction of Multi Purpose building at Meriema as prayed by Meriema Village Council chairman Keduolhoulie Huozha.
‘Send children to govt school’
Also addressing the gathering, Advisor Dr Yhome encouraged the parents to send their children to government schools. He urged upon the public to popularize and take care of the government schools and access to quality education.
He informed that there are 247 Govt High Schools in Nagaland in which 47 located in Kohima district. He admitted the shortage of mathematics and science teachers in many government schools and assured to address the matter.
GHS Meriema Assistant Headmaster Neiketou Kiewhuo informed that Meriema village school was started in 1927 as a Mission School with late Kevichusa from Khonoma village as the first teacher.
The first Govt. appointed teacher was Lt. Neingulie Keditsu from Chiechama village, who posted to the school in 1934.
It was informed that Sir Charles Pawsey when he was the Deputy Commissioner of Naga Hills during 1942 to 1944 once said that Meriema Mission School was the best maintained School in the area. The School was upgraded to Govt. Middle School in 2011 with Mengubeinuo Suokhrie as the first Head Teacher.
In 2022, a proposal for upgrading the School to Govt. High School was recommended by District Planning and Development Board (DPDB) Kohima and State Level Education Committee (SLEC) Nagaland headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and it has been upgraded accordingly to GHS in June 2023.
Presently, there are 14 teaching staffs and 1 AHM and 200+ students enrolled for 2024 academic session.
Nagaland's Women Resource Development & Horticulture Minister Salhoutuonuo Kruse, CAWD & Taxes advisor Küdecho Khamo and Dr Chumben Murry, advisor to Chief Minister including several other dignitaries also present at the inaugural programme.
