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DIMAPUR — The Konyak Students' Union (KSU) is constructing a makeshift classroom and staff room for the recently upgraded Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS) 'C' in Mon district.
The initiative was taken up to address the pressing need for accessible higher secondary education in the region, amid an estimated 1500 students having passed the High School Leaving Certificate examination in 2024, only to find limited classroom space at the existing school in the district.
KSU President Temwang Angh told Eastern Mirror that the GHSS 'C' was officially upgraded in January this year, but is yet to be activated.
The existing government higher secondary schools in Mon district, including two in Mon town and one each in Tobu, Aboi, Tizit, Naginimora, can hardly accommodate 100 students each.
“Those who can afford have left for other districts to pursue their education while others got admitted in private schools. However, there are many who cannot afford to go out or enrol in private schools, so a significant number of students were seeking admission at the upgraded GHSS ‘C’ but it has no classroom,” lamented Angh.
Pointing out that even the two existing GHSSs in Mon town were unable to accommodate even 600 students, he said severe shortage of space has prompted the student union to formally appeal to both the Department of School Education and the state government to expedite the activation of GHSS ‘C’.
Accordingly, on May 19, 2024, the KSU wrote to the Department of School Education, expressing the genuine and urgent need to activate the school, which was approved during the cabinet meeting held earlier this year to upgrade starting from 2024 academic session.
Angh said that the KSU had highlighted the severe overcrowding at both the existing schools in Mon town, which were already finding difficult to accommodate all students who sought admission for the current academic year. They argued that this not only compromised the quality of education but also created a challenging and inadequate learning environment for both students and faculty.
When the issue was brought to the attention of the concerned departments -- Advisor of School Education and Chief Minister -- the KSU was informed that it would be difficult to take immediate action, he said.
The student union was told that activating the school, including appointing teachers and constructing classrooms, would not be possible in the current year, he added.
However, considering the urgent need of classrooms and teachers, in order to make education accessible to students from financially weaker backgrounds, the KSU proposed a solution to the chief minister.
It offered to take on the responsibility of activating GHSS ‘C’ for an initial period of six months. This included covering the costs of appointing teachers and paying their salaries from August to January next year, as well as constructing the necessary classroom and staff room.
Accordingly, the KSU moved forward with teacher recruitment, appointing six teachers, through interviews, on a six-month contract basis. These teachers, selected from a pool of 27 candidates, will receive a monthly honorarium funded by the KSU.
“The teachers will take up English, Alternative English, Political Science, History, Sociology and Education subjects,” Angh informed.
Solution through community participation
Concurrently, the KSU commenced the construction of makeshift classroom and staff room of GHSS 'C' Mon, with local labour and active community participation.
“The construction of a 40×20 makeshift classroom, which can accommodate more than 100 students, began last week with the community participation becoming part of solution for education,” said Angh.
He said that the structure with bamboo walls, CGI roof and cemented floor, along with the adjacent staff room, is slated to be inaugurated soon.
Angh expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support received from the Mon community, highlighting the contributions of individuals, private schools, and various organisations. He also acknowledged donations ranging from essential classroom furniture like desks, benches, chairs, and boards, to financial contributions.
As for the future, he said that the KSU would continue to engage with the Department of School Education and the state government, towards a permanent solution for GHSS 'C', to ensure that it has proper infrastructure and adequate faculty appointed through the established government procedures.
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