Chizokho Vero
January 18
Kohima (MExN): If the Government of Nagaland have its way as being planned, scores of Naga students will soon have the opportunity to learn Chinese and other South East Asian languages, which in return set an opportunity to serve in South East Asian countries.
The Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has confirmed this initiative to send Naga students to the South East Asian countries.
“We are on the process of making facilities for learning Chinese and other South East Asian languages, so that our educated youth will become more exportable,” Rio said on the sideline of attending a function, ‘A dialogue on the North East as a regional market and economic zone- Going beyond the Look East Policy’ where dignitaries from the ASEAN Dialogue Society delivered wide ranging perspectives on the potential of the North East region as a major economic zone, on Wednesday in Kohima.
Surin Pitsuwan, former Foreign Minister of Thailand, had given an assurance to make that connection and enable Naga students to study languages of neighboring South East Asian countries.
The Chief Minister welcomed the assurance given by Surin adding “It is high time that we put into practice.”
Rio averred that Nagaland being a state with a large number of educated and English speaking youths who are eager to venture outside, the important area of advantage could be that of services in terms of education and health care facilities, starting from schools and colleges to technical education and referral hospitals.
Entrepreneurs Associate’s (EA) co-ordinator Neichute Duolo said Nagaland- with English as its official language among the states in India entails huge potential for thousands of young Naga graduates to teach English across the length and breadth of ASEAN nations.
“Understandably, it will be more cost effective for ASEAN economies to hire skilled Naga English teachers rather than turn to Australia, Europe or the Americas,” he said adding that Nagaland can become the centre for English language learning for ASEAN economies given the close cultural and ethnic affinity shared with them.
The ASEAN Dialogue Society also expressed willingness to extend assistance to students from Nagaland interested in learning languages of countries in South East Asia.
It may be mentioned that a delegation from the ASEAN Dialogue Society comprising of 10 members arrived yesterday and held wide ranging discussions with the Nagaland Government and NGOs to further the initiative of ASEAN for socio-economic cooperation.
(Inputs from DIPR)
