Nagaland
Upgrading of educational institutions in pipeline, says Nagaland Minister Jacob Zhimomi
DIMAPUR — Education is the top most priority of the present Nagaland government of the state, said Jacob Zhimomi, Minister of Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) and Co-operation, on Friday while highlighting efforts to upgrade schools and colleges across the state.
Projects aimed at enhancing educational infrastructure, including laboratories and auditoriums are in the pipeline, he said during the golden jubilee celebration of Government Higher Secondary School (1973-2023), Diphupar-A, at Diphupar Public Ground, Chümoukedima.
Zhimomi stressed the significance of nurturing the young human resource, calling it the greatest capital asset of the nation.
To make education accessible to all, irrespective of economic and social standings, he said, the government is considering engaging experienced people from diverse subjects in the education sector.
Reflecting on the history of education in Nagaland, he noted that it was once considered a privilege to receive education from government schools during the state’s formative years. He also highlighted the foresight of Naga forefathers, dating back to the British era, who ensured that education was never neglected in the state, while acknowledging the growth of educational institutions in Nagaland over the years.
In his address, Zhimomi encouraged teachers to guide students in choosing the right subject and providing adequate training.
He stressed the importance of subjects like mathematics and science, claiming that students with science backgrounds are doing extremely well. We want to see that the children are gainfully employed, he added.
Noting that Diphupar is one of the fastest developing villages in the state, he expressed plans to transform the area into a small township.
Wonthungo Tsopoe, Director of School Education department, offered words of encouragement to students studying in government schools, saying that many prominent figures, including politicians, bureaucrats and doctors had studied in government schools and went on to become leaders of the state and the nation.
He mentioned that in other states, people eagerly seek admission to government schools, but this is not the case in Nagaland. He congratulated the Diphupar government school for the good enrollment of students, especially in higher secondary classes, citing instances of students unable to secure admission in the institute due to the high rush.
In such cases, the government will ensure that students who seek admission will not be turned away in the future, he assured.
Tsopoe underscored the transformative power of education as a ‘weapon’ that can change society and urged parents to begin educating their children at home.
At present, all sorts of issues that were once alien to the Naga people are disturbing the society, he said, while stressing the need to guide the youth in the right direction. There are lots of prohibitions in the state today but it is useless because we are not abiding by the laws, he added.
Speaking on the misconception that the sole purpose of education is to secure white-collar jobs, he said it is important to make the students useful citizens of society.
Pointing out the lack of communication between the parents and children today, Tsopoe emphasised the role of teacher counselling in the school and urged the teachers to introspect and retrospect what they have contributed to the school and the students.
C Henow Phom, Principal of Government Higher Secondary School, Diphupar-A, informed that the school currently has 585 students from classes 6 to 12 in 2023, with 67 staff, including 42 teaching staff. He also appealed to the minister for the construction of a Jubilee memorial hall for the school, to which the minister expressed willingness to explore possibilities.
During the event, short speeches were delivered by Ghuzui Shohe, chairman of Diphupar Village Council and Lenisang K Jamir, president of Diphupar Naga Students’ Union. A dedicatory prayer for unveiling the monolith was led by Jacob Achumi, associate pastor of Sumi Baptist Church Diphupar.