Minister of PHED Tokheho Yepthomi has reiterated the need for introduction of biometric attendance systems in various institutions, especially in educational institutes and health centres to check on attendance, where absence of teachers and presence of proxy teachers were rampant.
Tokheho said this while inaugurating the newly constructed government Middle School building at Bamunpukhuri B village, which comprised of five rooms. Tokheho said while there were officially around 74000 registered unemployed, some schools complained about not having science and maths teachers.
On the shortage of science and maths teachers, he said most Naga students are disinclined to study the subjects and science and maths teachers from outside do not want to come to Nagaland. All these were factors that caused difficulties faced by Naga students in the present education scenario, he said.
Tokheho further highlighted the predicament in education by citing appointment of hundreds of Hindi teachers during 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 but most of who possessed false certificates. He said the inability of these teachers to teach Hindi had led them to have proxy teachers on their behalf. He asked, if such was the condition of the education system, how could students expect to progress? He also pointed out that salary of government teachers in primary schools was much higher than that of teachers in private schools, yet the qualitative output of the latter was much better.
Tokheho also revealed that the problem posed by proxy teachers was also discussed at the DPDB meeting, where the need for erasing the practice was voiced. However, he said the practice cannot be erased unless the public change their attitude. Tokheho said Nagas do not understand about proxy teachers and for which those involved teachers cannot be solely blamed. He further appealed the DDEO to check the number of proxy teachers within Dimapur area so that corrective measures could be taken against such teachers.
In her speech, R. Amongla, DDEO lauded GPS Bamunpukhri for the inauguration of the newly constructed building. She pointed out that unlike other schools, GPS Bamunpukhuri utilized government funds in a transparent manner. She also encouraged the teachers to be punctual, disciplined and to coordinate with each other in order to provide quality education. A brief report was delivered by SMC, chairman Apun Naben where he informed that the school comprised of 327 students and 12 government teachers. Short speeches were also delivered by Head GB Roben Daulagaupha and VCC Rajesh Longmailai.