Tuensang, January 31 (DIPR): Governor of Nagaland, Dr. Ashwani Kumar today stated that time is ripe to change the British system of education, introduced in 1850 by Lord McCauley, which was intended only to impact literacy to suit clerk jobs. He said this while interacting with the students of Sao Chang Government College here.
Dr. Ashwani told the students that his intention to visit the College was not to lecture, but hear them share and share his views and vision. As a result, the students poured out their anxieties over their future relating to funding of higher studies, Govt. support avenues, standards of education, reservation for women.
To this, the governor stated that the apprehensions of the students for future should be met with appropriate future institutions of three categories: Research in innovations for developments; Professional in disciplines of law, trades and technical; and Distance or open educations. The governor was strongly inclined towards orientation of higher education for professional courses after class ten or at the most class twelve. Mere degree levels will have no value and shall be equivalent to class twelve only, he expressed.
He also opined that the choice of higher education ought to be determined by the decision of choice to stay in the State or go out of the State. The first choice should entail the decision to go for professional courses, whereas the second choice should impel further higher studies. The governor added that Nagaland only has land with rich resources without professional human resources. Therefore, he advised the students to opt for professional courses. He cited the current case of Wazeho Cement Plant, where the government has invested Rs. 300 crores to upgrade its capacity, but has been non-operational due to lack of professionals to take over the business.
He challenged the students to meet the requirements to hold and run development projects instead of continually pointing fingers at the government. Let us be job providers, he said, and not lose morale, despite prevalence of mismanagements and corruptions in the social system.
On the issue of reservation for women, the governor felt the decision should come from community opinion. He maintained that Naga women are contributing and performing more responsibilities and they deserve to get their proper share and place in the society.
Meanwhile, Minister CM Chang, in his keynote address, attributed that the present governor is a pro-youth governor. Earlier, the programme was chaired by the principal of the College.
Guv visits House of Hope
The governor also visited House of Hope, run by Eleutheros Christian Society (ECS), on January 31 with his entourage. House of Hope complex is at Longphang in Tuensang district, where ECS has a hospital and monitors and operates many social welfare schemes and projects for the villages around it. ECS gave a PowerPoint presentation on the various humanitarian, social and welfare activities. All the projects were operated for the community and by the Self-Help Groups, with community participatory approach and contributions for shared benefits in economic uplifts.
Governor was highly impressed with the activities and achievements of the Society. The House of Hope is the answer to the question of sustainable community based self-help development, he said. He compared the complex to a Ramakrishna Mission Complex in Sundarban, where a lone Sadhu runs a hostel complex for 700 girls. The Mission Complex is entirely managed by the single Sadhu for all government programmes and projects without the government officials being involved.
The governor wished that all government department officers visit House of Hope to see and act.
