Phek shows community input boosts education goals

Dimapur, Oct. 19 (EMN): Educational establishments in Nagaland have faced challenges in the recent years with various strikes, issues of delay in supply of materials, besides criticism about the all too familiar issue of proxy teachers, among other matters. In the midst of it all, the community in Phek district proves that with strong community partnership, the education system can flourish to its full potential. This was evident when a team of officials from the Samagra Shiksha of the School Education department embarked on an inspection tour to the area there. The Communitisation Act of 2002 was launched with the vision that with community participation, sectors such as education and healthcare etc would experience development through partnership and involvement of stakeholders at the grassroots level. However, in most cases the endeavour has failed to translate into reality. However, there are some pockets in the state that stands tall in testifying the core values of community efforts that promote the welfare of the society. In assessing the schools in areas such as Pfutsero and Zapami, the impact of the community’s participation can be seen translated in success. The government higher secondary school of Pfutsero, for instance. It has with classes from 6 till the 12th standard. It enrolment is about 660 students. The school shines amid admirable community support. The school may be the first government school in Nagaland that has CCTV in the classrooms. Further, the institution is equipped with a tinkering laboratory, a modern computer laboratory; a sick room, reading room, a clean toilet complex; drinking water facility, hand wash area with water from rainwater harvesting tank; an organic vegetable and flower garden, among other utilities and facilities. All these facilities in the school give a tough competition to private schools in the area especially during admission time as most parents rush for admission to the government institution. The facilities in thAe school are purely through community contribution and participation. Ownership and accountability can be contagious. In Zapami, not very far from Pfutsero, is a cosy village that reflects the same goals of the Pfutsero community. The additional five rooms of the lone government middle school in the village were constructed solely by the community. In fact, the school even maintains a community-supported teacher for the past 10 years to address the acute shortage of teachers, and adding to their shared goals of quality education. Science practical classes are conducted by using simple equipments procured by the community to motivate and encourage students to take interest in science subjects. Further, a hostel for school children of the middle school is managed also by the community as a way of extending intervention and input. Most of the parents of the children are farmers and are not well-read. They do not have the ability or time to teach their children after school hours. Through the hostel, subjects about habits of hygiene and cleanliness, maintaining study hours and routine, among other etiquettes, are taught. The church sponsors the salary of the hostel’s warden while the village council sponsors the salary of the cook. As for the parents, they contribute firewood and rice. The enrolment in the middle school has since increased. The school also organises picnics, activities, and ensure that meals are provided to students. Even funds are mobilised for educational trips. The village’s community has a plan to construct an assembly hall for the school through the community. The members of the community have undoubtedly managed to create a motivating environment for the students to have the best from education. It may be stated that the success of a school depends on social and communal endeavour. The community spirit in these schools is an indicator that Nagaland has the potential to tackle the increasing pressure for greater community support to government academic establishments. With a strong partnership, success is only the next step. (With inputs from Samagra Shiksha, Nagaland)