The All Nagaland Private Schools’ Association has called for autonomy and innovation in Nagaland schools to support National Education Policy reforms.
Share
DIMAPUR — The All Nagaland Private Schools’ Association (ANPSA) has made a case for greater school autonomy, innovation and stakeholder trust, asserting that meaningful education reform cannot succeed under rigid controls and exam-centric approaches.
In a press release, the ANPSA stated that the National Education Policy (NEP) has placed education at a critical turning point, calling for a shift from rote learning to skill-based, life-oriented education.
For this transition to be effective—particularly in regions like Nagaland—schools must be allowed the freedom to innovate and adapt learning to real-world needs, it asserted.
Highlighting the role of private schools, the association informed that many institutions in the state have already introduced concept-based learning, vocational exposure, sports, projects and experiential activities, often without external funding.
Also read: Dimapur Naga Students' Union flags steep re-exam fees at some Dimapur schools
Such initiatives, it stated, help students move beyond memorisation and become “life-ready” rather than merely “exam-ready.”
The association stressed the growing relevance of vocational education, including skills such as entrepreneurship, communication and problem-solving, especially in the Northeast where self-employment plays a key economic role.
Vocational learning, it added, should complement—not replace—academic subjects, with schools given flexibility to design programmes based on local needs.
The ANPSA also cautioned against an excessive obsession with board examination results, arguing that marks alone cannot measure a child’s overall development.
Co-curricular activities like sports, music, art and public speaking, though often unexamined, are vital in building confidence, discipline and resilience, it added.
On the issue of fees, the association stated that quality education entails real costs, pointing to investments required for infrastructure, teacher training, laboratories, digital tools and safe learning environments. Education, it maintained, should be viewed as a long-term investment rather than an expense.
Raising concern over disruptions to academic environments, the ANPSA appealed for restraint in handling school-related disputes. It asserted that protests, media confrontations and disturbances—especially during examinations—can cause anxiety among students and undermine learning.
Calling for constructive dialogue, the association urged parents, school managements and civil society groups to engage through appropriate channels, stressing that education functions best when built on mutual trust and responsibility.
Reiterating that the shared goal of all stakeholders is the holistic growth of children, the ANPSA appealed for collective support to ensure that schools in Nagaland remain spaces of stability, innovation and learning.