Chizokho Vero
September 30
Kohima, (mexn): Despite the untimely release of funds and some disparity in the guidelines set by the Central government, a nationwide education project- Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), moves ahead successfully in Nagaland.
School education Minister Imkong L Imchen said the operation still needs a lot of rooms and called for its successful implementation with the involvement of NGOs in the state.
Speaking at the one-day awareness programme for NGOs on SSA at Kohima today, the Minister stated that many guidelines relating to central schemes were not suitable in the local context and perspective for which many past missions and policies had failed.
“We have to plan things according to the context of the state“, he said adding that implementation agencies do not necessarily follow the guidelines as most of them did not tally ‘with reality’ “we have to go to our own suiting” he said.
Additional Director, School Education Neipusielie asked the NGOs to come forward and sensitize people on the SSA project as well as revamp the whole system of education in the State.
“We have to work together whatever the gravity and task may be, “he said.
SSA’s State Project Director, KJ Lohe maintained that certain delays occurred in some projects/schemes due to the untimely release of funds. He, however, claimed that it was able to implement several schemes with whatever sanction was made available for the purpose.
He said the SSA aims to provide useful and relevant elementary education to all children in the 6-14 age group by 2010 and also to bridge social, regional and gender gaps with active participation of the community in the management of schools.
The objectives of the SSA are that all school children in EGS, alternative school be sent back to school camp by 2005; all children to be assisted in completing 5 years of schooling by 2007 and 8 years by 2010, universal retention by 2010, focus on elementary education of satisfactory quality with emphasis on education for life, serve as a people –centered mode of education with involvement of all stake holders, especially teachers, parents, community and Panchayat Raj institutions and voluntary organizations.
During 2004-04, Rs 33 Crores was approved for the SSA projects in the state he said adding that the SSA did not belong to individuals but to the whole state where successful implementation depended on the sincerity and commitment of each and every individual.
President of the Naga Students Federation (NSF) Pushika V Awomi stressed the need to have greater dissemination of the SSA programmes so it benefits the masses.
North East Students Organization (NESO) Secretary General NSN Lotha also pointed out the need to have more transparency in the SSA and called for more focus on quality education.
The Nagaland Baptist Churches Council and 25 other associations and NGOs have agreed to implement Alternative and Innovative Education while the Naga Mothers Association would take a project on Girl Child Education. SSA is a people movement towards universalization of elementary education, implemented in Nagaland since 2001, said Kiremwati, former Education Consultant.
Kiremwati also stated that the illiteracy would be wiped out with the successful implementation of the SSA in the state.
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