Dimapur, September 19 (MExN): The state government today issued a response to the NSCN-K’s ultimatum to the minister for Education over allowing students from the hill districts to sit for examination through the NBSE. The Nagaland government has reminded that no individual can be held solely responsible for executing a decision of the government strongly backed by civil society, including NGOs and frontal students’ bodies.
The statement issued through Chief Secretary Lalhuma stated that the Cabinet in its meeting held on November 2, 2006 decided to allow Naga students of Manipur to be admitted in schools in Nagaland and appear in the HSLC examinations. For this, the department of Education was entrusted to make necessary arrangements. The decision was prompted by humanitarian considerations, the government reminded.
Pursuant to the decision of the Cabinet, proposals for providing funds to accommodate students from the hill districts were forwarded to the NBSE to the school education department to meet various contingent expenditure to facilitate the appearance of these students in the NBSE examinations held in various centers of Kohima and Dimapur. The examinations conducted by the NBSE were held without any untoward incident due to support of a cross-section of NGOs of all tribes and frontal organizations like the NSF and the Naga Hoho, it stated.
The government further informed that in the just-concluded 15th session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, the NBSC rules were tabled in the house. It provided that “the NBSE may, in selective cases, extend the services and facilities of the board to institutions located outside Nagaland, and recognize the various internal promotion examinations conducted by them.” As such, there was no voice of opposition or discussion despite the Speaker allowing opportunity to the house to seek clarifications.
“In the light of the aforesaid submission of facts, the decision to allow Naga students of Manipur to appear in the HSLC examinations conducted by the NBSE and to make necessary arrangements for them to appear in the examinations was a decision of the Cabinet and therefore a decision of the government. Hence, no individual can be held solely responsible for executing a decision of the government strongly backed by the civil societies, NGOs and the frontal student bodies etc…” the state government stated.
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