ANPSA Mokokchung marks silver jubilee as Kesiezie stresses tackling educated unemployment in Nagaland.
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MOKOKCHUNG — The All-Nagaland Private Schools' Association (ANPSA) Mokokchung Unit celebrated its silver jubilee on the theme “Towards educational excellence: a legacy of learning,” at Whispering Winds, Mokokchung town, on Friday.
Pheluopfhelie Kesiezie, Administrator of North Field School in Kohima and senior advisor to ANPSA Central Kohima, was the guest of honour at the event.
In his address, Kesiezie asserted that genuine educational excellence goes beyond academic achievements; it’s about addressing societal challenges according to the needs of society through education.
He drew attention to Nagaland's growing problem of educated unemployment, pointing out that nearly 99% of the state's youth focus exclusively on securing government jobs. This narrow aspiration, he noted, leads young people to spend their most productive years preparing for highly competitive exams with limited vacancies, creating a significant societal challenge.
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Kesiezie posed a reflective question to educators: What exactly are we preparing our students for, and where is this path leading us?
To address these concerns, he advocated for stronger collaboration between schools and policymakers to develop an education framework that aligns with current societal and economic needs, warning that failure to adapt could push the state toward a "failed state” in future.
Highlighting stream preferences after the matric, he observed that approximately 75% of students opt for arts/humanities, while less than 25% choose science streams.
He stressed the need to advance toward industrialisation by prioritising technical skills and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education—an interdisciplinary, hands-on approach essential for economic growth.
Kesiezie pointed out that Nagaland's economy remains largely service-oriented, leaving limited options for unemployed youth.
He argued that humanities alone do not generate revenue or drive progress; instead, industries thrive on citizens' knowledge in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
“Education must support the government, and the government must support education,” he asserted, adding, “Only through such mutual collaboration can we gradually resolve our challenges—otherwise, the future will be difficult to navigate.”
Looking ahead, he predicted that Alpha School models assisted by AI —featuring shorter academic hours (around four hours daily), followed by sports, games, skill-building sessions, flexible subject choices, and greater freedom—will be the future trend of education.
He urged schools to promote subjects that build practical skills and to abandon rote learning, which he called counterproductive and likely to hinder societal advancement.
Instead, he encouraged a shift from traditional information-based teaching to a creative phase of education that nurtures social and emotional skills—areas where AI cannot replace human guidance.
“The duty of schools,” he said, “is to provide students with skills through demonstration, mentorship, and inspiration, fostering true educational excellence.”
Kesiezie further challenged attendees, “Let us emerge from the shadows of ignorance into a progressive society of educational excellence. That must be ANPSA's enduring legacy.”
The guest of honour also unveiled the silver jubilee souvenir and memento during the programme.
Jubilee greetings were also extended by the Extra Assistant Commissioner (EAC), Mokokchung, and District Education Officer, Sentinenla. The ANPSA Mokokchung Unit currently includes 24 member schools.