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According to 2011 census of India, Nagaland state has a literacy rate of 79.55% (82.75% male and 76.11% female), which is a tremendous improvement from 10.52% in 1951. The state’s literacy rate might have improved even more over the past one decade with awareness on the need for education reaching far and wide, including remote areas. One trend that could be visible in the next census (2021) is literacy rate of female population in the state. We have been witnessing this encouraging development over the past few years with girls outperforming boys in the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) and the Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (HSSLC) examinations conducted by the Nagaland School Board of Education (NBSE). Like last year, girls once again outshone boys in these examinations held this year. In the recently declared HSLC and HSSLC results, a total 8470 girls qualified as against 7210 boys, and girls dominated in the top list too. This is very encouraging, not because boys didn’t perform well but it in some ways it indicates that girls in the state could have been given fair chance in education and that they can excel in every field if given a chance. Interestingly, this trend is witnessed at the national level as well as in most states.
The pass percentage in the two examinations is 71.84%, which is good, but the disparity between government and private schools, and those from urban and rural areas of the state is disturbing. While Kohima topped the table, recording pass percentage of 64% for government schools and 89% for private schools, districts like Longleng registered just 10% pass percentage for government schools, and Kiphire 16%. The performance of government schools has been improving over the years but 47.40% recorded this year is much below the average; forget about comparing results with private educational institutions. On top of that, 30 schools out of total 34 that registered nil result this year are government institutions. It is crystal clear from these figures that government schools, which consume a significant portion of the state’s exchequer, are not doing what it should – to provide quality education to students. This huge disparity in the results of government schools in urban and rural areas also could be an outcome of proxy teaching that is rampant in the state.
The big question is how to bridge this gap which repeats year after year. Well, the state government should take harsh decision in education sector, including doing away with proxy teaching practice that has caused untold damage to the society, especially the marginalised sections that can’t afford to send their children to private institutions. The government should end this social evil and concentrate on providing quality education to every single citizen of the state. Education is not just about accumulation of information and data, and to get a job. It is about empowering young minds with knowledge; providing them the right milieu to think, reason and analyse. It is also about moulding the youth to become law-abiding citizens and good human beings. Everyone should get equal opportunity to reach one’s fullest potential.