The two day Silver Jubilee celebrations of All Nagaland Private School Association (ANPSA) Dimapur unit got underway on Saturday at DDSC Stadium, Dimapur.
K.T. Sukhalu, advisor of School Education, graced the celebration as special guest and KK Chaudhury, director, CBSE Regional Office, Guwahati as the guest of honour.
Speaking at the celebration, Sukhalu congratulated ANPSA Dimapur unit for completing a milestone and also lauded private schools for contributing towards education in the state. “The work of the private school is appreciable,” said Sukhalu while encouraging them to continue with the good work. Compared with other districts, he said private schools in Dimapur were doing much better.
Sukhalu also acknowledged the fact that private schools were doing much better than government schools in the state. He said, “government teachers are well educated and well qualified but unfortunately the progress is not half of what private schools have produced.”
The growth of students depends on the attitude, mindset and concern the teachers have for them, and teachers can show the students that they are leaders of tomorrow, he asserted.
Enrolment in the government schools is decreasing while the enrolment in private schools is increasing and this is a huge responsibility for the ANPSA, said the special guest.
With the mushrooming of private schools in the state, Sukhalu reminded the gathering that educational institutions should not run only for profit making. The institutions have to ensure all round development of the children and make them leaders of the state and country.
While stating that children also needed extra-curricular activities and not only book knowledge, he urged school managements to create conducive environments for children to grow.
Sukhalu also brought up a trend which is allegedly ongoing now in private schools. “One disturbing trend is that priority is given to good students only and transfer certificates are being issued to weak students,” he said. “If this is the case, I would like to request the management to look into it,” requested Sukhalu.
He pointed out that certain groups of students have advantage over others.
“Children from educated families and from poor families cannot be compared. Their exposure and mindsets are different” but these are factors that the teachers and management have to consider to bring out the best in students, he added.
Also speaking at the program, KK Chaudhury said that Nagaland with a literacy rate of 80.11% is a big contributor to the literacy rate of India. While congratulating ANPSA Dimapur unit for attaining 25 years, he said ANPSA had done tremendous work for growth of students in the state.
The first day of celebration was marked by cultural and modern dances, kids choir, beat boxing etc.
Earlier, an invocation prayer was offered by Rev. Moses Murry, advisor, ANPSA and welcome address was delivered by Andrew Ahoto, president ANPSA. The vote of thanks was proposed by Leo David and the benediction was said by Fr. Joshua, principal, Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Dimapur.
The program on November 4 will be held at Holy Cross Higher Secondary School, Dimapur from 4:00 pm onwards. The second day will feature items like Korean dance, modern Punjabi dance, skit, Hawaiian dance, western dance, fusion etc.