MoS for Education Annpurna Devi emphasizes commitment to Nagaland’s development

APAAR consultation meeting with NSF on November 16

DIMAPUR — Minister of State (MoS) for Education, Annpurna Devi said that both the Centre and state governments are working closely for overall development of Nagaland in order to fulfill the aspirations of every section of Naga people.

She said that the central government is committed to developing the Northeast and has taken several initiatives to improve the lives of the people in the region.

Interacting with media persons at Raj Bhavan, Kohima, after visiting Tseminyu district on Wednesday, the MoS highlighted significant features of National Education Policy 2020 including the introduction of vocational education from Class 6, medium of instruction in Indian languages/ mother tongue, multiple entry multiple exit, academic bank of credit, etc. She also mentioned flagship schemes such as Samagra Shiksha, PM Poshan for providing cooked food to school children and PM Usha for improving higher education in Nagaland.

During her visit to Tseminyu, the MoS visited the Government High School, Kandinu, inspected the school building and the classroom infrastructure and interacted with students. A demonstration on the functioning of the smart classroom and computer lab was also organised during her visit.

Devi had an interaction with the School Management Committee, reviewed the implementation of PM-POSHAN Abhiyan and served mid-day meals to the students.

She also visited the Primary Health Centre in Chunlikha and reviewed the availability of healthcare facilities and infrastructure at the centre. Then she interacted with MLA Jwenga Seb, district administration officials and various civil society organisations including the Rengma Hoho and Rengma Selo-Zi, at the Conference Hall of the Deputy Commissioner, Tseminyu.

Matters pertaining to the shortage of manpower in the School Education department and establishment of a Jawahar Navodalaya Vidyalaya (JNV) were discussed at the meeting, and the MoS reviewed the implementation of centrally-sponsored schemes by various departments in Tsemniyu district.

She was accompanied by Dr. Kekhrielhoulie Yhome, Advisor of School Education and SCERT; Rohini R Bhajibhakare, Private Secretary to the MoS; Kevileno Angami, Commissioner and Secretary of School Education; Thavaseelan K, Principal Director of School Education and Mission Director of Samagra Shiksha, Nagaland, among others.

‘Parents cannot be forced to sign’

Meanwhile, Thavaseelan K, who was present at the interaction programme, informed that the department is convening a coordination meeting with the Naga Students’ Federation on November 16 to discuss matters related to the National Education Policy 2020 and the implementation of Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR), also known as ‘one nation one student ID’.

As far as APAAR is concerned, parents cannot be forced to sign, he clarified.

He also informed the department is in the process of developing textbooks for 14 tribes’ languages to be used for classes 9 to 12. Currently, it is available only for four languages — Ao, Sumi, Tenyidie and Lotha.

From 2025, the Education department will be able to introduce the Nagaland heritage studies, he added.

Also read: Nagaland Civil Secretariat Complex lacks accessibility facilities for Persons with Disabilities