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Recipients of the Kohima District Teachers’ Award seen with the department officials after the award ceremony on September 1.[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, Sep 1 (EMN): Honouring the teaching community for their dedicated services in shouldering the responsibility of moulding the young minds, ten teachers from Kohima district from both government and private schools were awarded with the Kohima District Teachers’ Award.
The award ceremony, held at Deputy Commissioner’s conference hall this morning, was graced by Director (HS) of School Education, Wonthungo Tsopoe, as the guest of honour. The programme was organised by the Deputy District Education Officer, Kohima, (DDEO).
On questions being raised by some teachers in the past about the selection of the teacher’s award, Wonthungo clarified that the department has been very transparent in the selection process based on not only the teacher’s performance inside the classroom but activities outside the schools too.
He, however, admitted that the department has so far not been able to evaluate the performances of the teachers’ awardees in the district, state and national level. He said the department has been contemplating to organise a workshop in the current year for all the awardees for an interaction and assessment of the performance and activities of the awardees.
While acknowledging the concept of communitisation of schools as ‘unique and beautiful,’ Tsopoe frankly admitted that the concept has not come up to the expected level stating that ‘somehow somewhere something has gone wrong.’
Nevertheless, he said the department is trying to rectify the problem areas and improve the communitisation which can also check the absenteeism and proxy teachers with the help and support of the community who have been empowered to look into the education sector.
Quoting John Dewey who said, ‘education is not a preparation for life but education is life,’ Tsopoe asserted that there is no greater profession on earth than teaching as teachers deal with the lives of the young people by shaping and moulding to be become responsible citizens.
He observed with pain where some teachers waste their time in wishful thinking besides absenteeism and proxy teaching. Tsopoe also admitted that the biggest challenge faced by the department is the negative projection of the department in the media due to all the wrong reasons and because of some few teachers who failed to perform their duty.
While stating that it is trying its best to do away with anomalies, Tsopoe asserted that the priority and quality of education should come from the teachers and not from the directorate. The hall mark of education system being the teacher’s ‘commitment, dedication, sincerity and integrity,’ he said only then the education system will improve.
Educationist and retired Joint Director of School Education, Phutoli L Jamir also spoke on the occasion, while students of G Rio Higher Secondary School, Kohima, presented a special number.
Congratulating the teachers whom he referred to as ‘Ambassadors of the department,’ Tsopoe urged them to put in more effort by rededicating themselves ‘so that we all can make a better place, society, state and nation.’
ADC Kohima, TL Kiusumong Tikhir, has appreciated the teachers who have taken the extra miles to reach out and guide the students beyond the classroom by making benchmark contributions to the society.
Calling them as ‘counsellor, healer, caretaker, friend, guide and philosopher,’ Tikhri said teachers have been given huge responsibility to teach the ‘questions and facts of life’ to the students, which cannot be found, learn or taught from the present advanced technologies.
He also encouraged the teachers to equipped themselves with the evolving times and fill the gaps by adopting holistic method of teaching and assuming the role of friendship with their students.
Citation and cash awards were given to Tiawapang (PGT) of Rüzhükhrie Government Higher Secondary School, Kohima; Naoghonhjemla Ongphang (PGT) of GHSS, Tseminyu; Raj Narayan Pan (Senior PGT) of GHS, Nerhema; Khrielie Paphino (PT) of GMS, Pfucham; Kekhrüvi Kikhi (PT) of GMS K Khel, Viswema; Mary Tep (GT) of GMS, Tseophenyu; Niwalo Kath (PT) of GHS, Kandinu; James Asosu (AT) of Holy Family School; N Abemo Humtsoe (PGT) of G Rio HSS; and Naorem Sharat Singh (AT) of Azedon School, Kohima.