Nagaland Education Association laments educationists are never taken into confidence on policies of education
DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 16 (MExN): An organization called the Nagaland Education Association (NEA) has criticized the Governor of Nagaland PB Acharya for not acknowledging the community of educationist and educators on the occasion of National Education Day which falls on November 11 every year.
A press statement issued by NEA president Dr. Zavise Rume lamented that the Governor “did not spare even a single word to greet the community of educationists and educators” on the occasion of the National Education Day. It informed that the National Education Day is declared as an annual observance in India to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad, freedom fighter and the first Education Minister of Independent India.
National Education Day of India is celebrated on November 11 every year. The Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India has declared on September 11, 2008 announcing: "The Ministry has decided to commenmorate the birth of this great son of India by recalling his contribution to the cause of Education in India. November 11 every year from 2008 onwards will be celebrated as the National Education Day without declaring it a holiday."
However, the NEA lamented that the silence of the Governor signifies that “he does not recognise the educationists and educators in the state as a contributing factor for national development and an agent of change.” While pointing out that "Education is the mother of all professions" the Association felt that the “dishonouring the National Education Day is unbecoming for the head of the state.”
The Association also extrapolated that in Naga society; education is loosely used and with everyone thinking that education can be handled by any lay person without consultation of educationists. In this context, the Association said education experts are left alone without being consulted in the process of education policy formulation. No Minister, no Governor, no bureaucrat of Education Department had ever initiated any consultation with educationists in the process of education policy formulation in the state, it rued.
The Association pointed out that the present policies like communitisation of Elementary Education Act 2002 giving powers to community to share the state government's roles and functions in school management needs further review in consultation with educationists. Similarly, educationists must be taken into confidence while implementation various government policies and programs like RTE Act, SSA, RMSA, RUSA etc so as to frame a clear cut state policy on education which is the need of the hour, the press statement read.
