Lalan Kumar Singh, Mathematics Teacher at GHS Botsa (Right) & Headmaster-in-charge, Ahichu Kath (Left).
‘Social prestige that my child is studying in a private school’
Vishü Rita Krocha
Kohima | November 8
Government schools in Nagaland are not particularly sought after with most parents seeking to enrol their children in the best private schools. There are instances of parents borrowing money just to secure admission for their children in a private school.
As observed by Lalan Kumar Singh, who currently teaches at Government High School (GHS), Botsa, the reluctance of parents in sending their children to government schools is related to the “social prestige that my child is studying in a private school.”
The Mathematics & Science Teacher, who first came to Nagaland in the year 1991 and eventually joined GHS Botsa in the year 2008, did not have any qualms about admitting his son in a government school. That was how Sunny Kumar Singh was enrolled in Class-V in the same year, despite other private schools offering free admission for his son.
“All the private schools told me that time to admit my son in their schools, saying they won’t even take the admission fee,” he related to The Morung Express. However, it just did not make sense to him to send his son to another school.
He let him continue his studies there and when Sunny Kumar Singh secured the 7th position in the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) Examination during 2014, he also scripted history by enabling GHS Botsa to produce its first HSLC Topper. GHS Botsa was established in the year 1962 and caters to students from 10 surrounding villages.
Another example was set by the Headmaster-in-charge of the school, Ahichu Kath, who admitted his child in the same government high school. The student was one of the best performing students having secured more than 90% in the HSLC Examination. While efforts are being made in enrolling more students in government schools, Ahichu Kath also noted that more often than not, they are getting “rejected students.” “It is a huge challenge to make them good students, and produce good results,” he put across.
Despite government schools having the best qualified teachers, most of these schools are not in the best condition, which is also one of the reasons why enrolment suffers in this regard. This is where the World Bank funded Nagaland Education Project - The Light House, NECTAR (Nagaland Enhancing Classroom Teaching and Resources) also comes in, towards revamping the government schools across the state in every possible way.
Through the first batch of ‘Performance Incentive Grant’ (PIG) as part of Governance and Capacity Building Component of NECTAR, it has remarkably transformed many government schools which were earlier not particularly appealing.
Many schools now have a proper roof above their heads after replacing leaking roofs or building proper toilets besides building a conducive environment for learning.
Each school under PIG has also come up with innovative activities, also finding ways to revive and practice indigenous practices through storytelling sessions, hands on sessions in craft, weaving, gardening, farming, etc. Apart from their academic lessons, students are learning cultural knowledge and indulging themselves in learning activities such as basket making, knitting, making brooms, cutting and tailoring among other things.
Security Fencing for Schools
It was learnt that hundreds of schools across the state have proposed for building fencing under the first batch of the ‘Performance Incentive Grant’. Primarily, the reasons cited are to prevent encroachment and also secure students with many schools being placed on a hill and students might fall. A member of SMC (School Management Committee) at Government Primary School, Jotsoma, related that without fencing, people come to the school premises just to drink and litter the place.
“It is not safe, so we proposed to enclose our school premises, as well as to prevent encroachment,” he highlighted.
Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS), Jotsoma has just recently completed roofing of the front phase of the school building under PIG while the back phase is yet to be given a new look. Another need the school articulated was a permanent fencing of the school, which was established in the year 1968.
In this regard, Pelevito Nakhro, member of School Management Development Committee (SMDC) stated worry that there might be encroachment. “Whatever our forefathers have donated, we want to save it for the future generations. We want to make it permanent,” he categorically stated.
Mention may be made here that many educational institutions in Nagaland are built on land donated by the community.
