Open letter to director School Education

[dropcap]W[/dropcap]hile lauding the State Government and the Directorate of School Education, Nagaland for awarding “Teachers Award” to the meritorious and selfless teacher on the occasion of Teacher’s Day on 5th September every year, we would like to know from Director of School Education Kohima, weather the State Teacher’s Award is created only for the Government Schools or both for Government and private Schools. Weather the criterion for selection of the said Award is based on the length of Service alone or both based on length of Service and merit achievement.While expressing our view, it is not our intention to undermine the selfless services and contributions of the Government Teachers/Schools but we want to know the truth and the objective of the said Award. If the said Award is meant for Government and the Private Schools then the Private Schools are virtually sidelined every year. This year, for example the Award share is.. Government Schools got 27 out of 33 i.e. 82% and the Private School got only 6 i.e. 18%. Again, if the said Award is based on merit achievement then the result or achievements in the field of education by the Private Schools are much better than the Government Schools. For example, in HSLC result 2013, the passed percentage of the Government Schools was 37% whereas, Private Schools secured 80%. The Award itself mentions “State Teachers Award”. The State literally is inclusive of both Government and private. The Award itself also says meritorious-meaning the Award should be mainly based on merit or academic achievement and not merely based on the length of service or being the Government Teacher. Basing on the above stated facts, the present system of Teacher’s Award given by the Government and the Education Department is factually incorrect. The present system of Pro-Government Teacher’s Award should be changed if we want to deliver justice and quality education in our State. Teachers Award should be purely based on merit and the deserving Teacher’s weather Government or Private Schools/Teacher’s should be awarded. Thungchibemo Humtsoe, Secy. Team Metamorphosis, Wokha Town: Nagaland. Contact: 9863919500.