DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 12 (MExN): Emphasising on the need for change in the state through spiritual development of children, NPF President and Minister for Higher Education, Dr. Shürhozelie said that the government would henceforth encourage spiritual education in the government schools across the state. He opined that providing a spiritual background to the whole education of children was the strongest means to change the Naga society, and as a Christian state, Dr. Shürhozelie foresaw no problem in implementing Christian studies in the schools of the state.
Speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural program of Faith Hall of Great Commission Kids Academy at Naga United Village, Dimapur, the NPF president talked of the Naga National workers who were supposed to protect the rights of the Naga people but were instead split into various factions and going about chasing and killing each other in the name of sovereignty. “Can anybody convince me that the Nagas fighting among themselves can bring sovereignty? Can anybody convince me that Nagas killing each other can protect the rights of the Naga people?” questioned Dr. Shürhozelie in an expression of distress over the Naga plight.
Appealing to the wisdom of the national workers, the chief guest said that they (national workers) must realise that they must stand with the Naga people. In such a scenario, the NPF president appealed to the management of the Great Commission Kids Academy to create new personalities who understand the meaning of forgiveness and usher in change.
Dr. Shürhozelie also pointed out that Nagaland has been a late bloomer in all fronts including education and when the first college in the state, Fazl Ali College was started in 1959, the neighbouring states had many colleges and institutions. However, he opined that within a short span of time, Nagaland had done pretty well with a great emphasis on opening as many schools as possible, especially in rural areas after attainment of statehood so as to meet the demands of the people. However, the Minister for higher education admitted that in this rush for quantity, the state had failed to provide quality education for which he held the government responsible. Therefore, this had led to the realisation of the people that they could not wholly depend on government schools and opened up their own private schools; and the chief guest expressed gratitude to the Baptist Missions and Catholic Missions for opening many Christian institutes in the state.
Underscoring the need for schools to keep pace with the global systems in order to provide world-class education, Dr. Shürhozelie maintained that in this aspect, private schools were doing much better that the government-run schools. He talked about the recent questionnaire distributed by the government, in which one question sought to know why people were reluctant to send their children to government schools. The NPF chief said that even some government teachers sent their children to private schools which indicated that the government teachers “have become very casual,” adding that perhaps these teachers do not realise the responsibility of the noble profession which demands sincerity and devotion. Dr. Shürhozelie defined sincerity and devotion as the physical presence of teachers with the students, adding that ‘private school’ teachers had better realisation of this aspect of their profession. The chief guest, however, exhorted the private teachers not to become complacent but to strive towards greater heights of excellence in their profession.
Earlier in the program, proprietor of the school, Rev. Dr. P Dozo, introduced the history and vision of the Great Commission Kids Academy, and special music was presented by the Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research. There were also presentations of items by the students of the school. The inauguration of the Academy’s Faith Hall was followed by the annual-cum-parents’ day program of the School at which Chairperson of Nagaland State Commission for Women, Sano Vamuzo, was the guest of honour.
Sano Vamuzo greatly emphasised the role of parents for the holistic education of their children. Speaking of the need for spiritual and Biblical education for children, the Chairperson of the Women Commission maintained that without this aspect of education, “there will be more harm done than good.” The chief guest at the parents’ day function also underscored the need to raise a new generation through the gift of children that God endowed on the parents. She opined that the present chaos in the present Naga society could be traced back to the failure of Nagas as parents and added that there was a need to start afresh. “We want peace in our land but when there is no peace in the family, how can there be peace in our land,” questioned Sano Vamuzo communicating urgency for raising a new society of children with qualities of honesty, sincerity, respect and character.
