Longrangty Longchar
Congratulations to all the successful students who passed out HSLC & HSSLC examinations 2017 conducted by the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE). A special congratulation to all the toppers; girls outshone the boys once again, but then, education, as far as I am concerned, knows no gender or age but excellence only. It also didn’t come as a surprise to see that most of the top positions were achieved by non-Nagas; perhaps, they are more sincere, dedicated and have more zeal for academic excellence. Therefore, so a special congratulation to the non-Naga students for their great achievement among the 37,918 students that appeared in the HSLC & HSSLC examination 2017.
What set my mind into thinking was simply this: almost all the top ten students in the HSLC and HSSLC (Arts, Commerce and science streams) are from educational institutions either from Kohima or Dimapur. Except for one student from Wokha in the Top 9 position in the HSLC exam, all are from the two biggest cities in Nagaland. Of course, some of the private schools in other district also did extremely well and secured good marks and could find their names in the Top 20 lists. I do sincerely pray and hope that they would go on to do better in their higher classes.
But the biggest question that rings in my mind is about the thirty Government run institutions that produced ‘nil results’. Could the answer be obvious: like the scourge of proxy teachers, the lack of dedication or cooperation among the teachers or is it the fault of the students? I am also wondering whether the children of some of the government teachers - whose schools produced nil results – fared well from some private schools. If there is any case like that - which I hope not – then it would be a big shame on the part of those government school teachers. Anyway, it is time to look ahead and I, as a concerned citizen, am sharing my thoughts simply out of concern for our children as a whole.
Therefore, it is time for some soul searching among the government schools too. It is quite encouraging that the state government has on May 6, 2017 resolutely declared ‘No total bifurcation of HSS, HS’ and also declared that “Government High Schools (GHSs) with nil results for three consecutive years would be downgraded”. Sometimes, we need such strong-willed decisions from the state government too. It is no secret that there was a cold war of the sort between GHS and Higher Secondary government employees for a number of reasons during the past years in many schools. Besides, the education department, which is supposed to be the most respected department, has been in the news during the past many years for all the wrong reasons.
It would be futile to talk about it now; but our Chief Minister Dr Shurhozelie, during his visit to a GHSS in Mokokchung recently, also acknowledged it and promised to do something about it. Hopefully, the latest Government’s notification is the sincere promise of our Chief Minister, and hopefully this would bring some harmony in the working system of the government run institutions.
To be quite blunt, it is a wonder that the government educational institutions have some of the most qualified and experienced teachers; and thanks to the different central flagship programmes like SSA, RMSA etc, a lot of facilities are being provided nowadays (whether those funds reach the schools, is another question).
Yes, with due respects to our government school students, perhaps we can say that the private school students might be a bit better off that those who study government institutions, but to produce ‘nil results’ is simply astounding. Couldn’t there really be a single student, who if given the right guidance, would at least get through in a simple pass? Surely, there must be at least one or two. Here, I would like to point out about something about our fore-parents, who had to walk for miles to go to remote schools for their education. Many had to work as daily wage earners during holidays to cover their educational institutions, and yet many excelled and went on to become great personalities in our state and the nation. It surely should ring something in our minds. Hopefully, in the years to come, our state government educational institutions would also fare well, if not, produce better results than their private school counterparts, and hopefully none of the government high schools in the state would be downgraded because of ‘nil results’.
But at the same time, it would be highly insensible on the part of the state government, especially the DoSE to simply blame the teachers and government institutions for producing ‘nil results’. The infrastructures of most government run educational institutions are in a dilapidated condition, besides there is ‘no timely release of text books and other funds too’ not mention about the late disbursal of salaries to the teachers. Last year, when the state government water-cannoned the agitating teachers who were demanding their salaries, the sentiments of many good citizens were deeply hurt and expressed that it would have adverse affect directly or indirectly on the educational scenario in Nagaland. Does it ring a bell, My Dear State Government? Therefore, it is time the state government also takes educational institutions as the ‘Temple of learning’ and the students as the future of the nation with all seriousness, not just as rhetoric for occasions like teachers’ day etc. Likewise, hopefully the government teachers would also be more dedicated give to the children the hordes of knowledge in their minds so that ‘every student will become like his teacher’ in the years to come. Nothing is never too late, and with proper understanding comes greater hope for the future.
Anyway congratulations all the successful students once again, and to those who could not make it this time, may your heart not be disheartened but find courage and the determination to excel in the year to come. After all, examination alone is not the benchmark of a good education. What matters is your strong character – be it during times of success or failure – and the ability to look beyond today so that you would know where you would be tomorrow. God bless you all.
