Resource persons and participants during the North East Shiksha Samvaad 2026, held at Tetso College in Chümoukedima on March 27.
Chümoukedima, March 27 (MExN): The North East Shiksha Samvaad 2026, held at Tetso College in Chümoukedima, brought together educators, policymakers, civil society leaders and institutional representatives to deliberate on building a future-ready education ecosystem in the Northeast.
The Samvaad, a platform under the Shikshagraha movement aimed at ensuring access to quality education in public schools, was supported by HDFC Bank Parivartan in association with Mantra4Change and ELEVATE Foundation. Participants included representatives from Samagra Shiksha, NECTAR, the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE), NGOs and educational institutions.
Kevisato Sanyu, Founder of NagaEd and Director of ELEVATE Foundation, said, “We are the architects and designers of what education is,” adding that the forum encouraged open dialogue and collective resolution-building.
Tetso College Principal Dr Hewasa L Khing, in her welcome address, stressed contextual learning and the integration of cultural and indigenous knowledge, while highlighting the need to address gaps in preparing youth for real-world transitions.
Delivering the first keynote, Dr Darlando Thamni Khathing, Vice Chancellor of North East Christian University, underscored the need to align education with rapid global changes and foster adaptability among learners.
A panel discussion on “From Infrastructure to Learning Impact” moderated by Ransom Lungleng featured Dr Bijano Murry (Samagra Shiksha), Benjamin Vinito Chishi (NECTAR) and Ruth Jami (GMS Jaukie Sector B), focusing on bridging policy and practice and shifting toward learning outcomes.
In the second keynote, Dr Mary N Odyuo, Associate Professor at Nagaland University, called for redefining educational success to include real-world preparedness, confidence and life skills.
Another panel on “It Takes a Village” highlighted the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in building a supportive ecosystem for learners.
The event also featured a cultural performance by Tetso College Dance Club.
In her closing remarks, Shiroi Lily Shazia-Sanyu, Co-founder of NagaEd, urged participants to sustain engagement beyond the event and continue collective efforts to transform education.
The Samvaad reaffirmed the Northeast’s potential to lead in education innovation through strong community participation, cultural richness and youth engagement, contributing to the broader goal of improving one million public schools across India under the Shikshagraha movement.
