Correspondent
KOHIMA/DIMAPUR, MAY 23 (NPN): The Kohima Ongpangkong Telongjem and Asetkong Mungdang organised separate award programmes on Saturday to honour meritorious Ao students who excelled in the HSLC and HSSLC examinations.
At Kohima, the 20th edition of the N.I. Jamir Academic Excellence Award was held at Molu Ki, where advisor for Labour and Employment, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Excise, Moatoshi Longkumer, presented awards to 13 HSLC toppers from all six Ao ranges. Each recipient received a citation and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000.
In his address, Moatoshi said the programme was not merely about distributing awards but celebrating discipline, sacrifice and dreams. He congratulated the toppers for their achievements, which he said were earned through dedication and consistency, and applauded parents and teachers for their silent sacrifices. He urged students to carry their language, traditions and identity with pride, while also pursuing excellence beyond academics by learning skills, improving communication and embracing technology.
Professor of Nagaland University, Pangersenla Walling, encouraged students to focus on self-learning and understand their own potential rather than blindly following trends. She also stressed the importance of comparing indigenous learning systems with artificial intelligence. Earlier, prayers were offered by pastor KABA Temjenmongba Sempo, while Supongliba led the presentation of awards and Nokchasashi delivered the vote of thanks.
Meanwhile, at Süngratsü, the 7th Asetkong Mungdang Yajen Aier (AMYA) Honorary Award and AKTM Excellency Award were held under the theme “Reinvigorating Teaching and Learning.”
Speaking at the programme, EAC Kobulong, Obangnener Jamir, congratulated the awardees and acknowledged the role of teachers in shaping student achievements. He urged students not to compare themselves with others but to strive for self-improvement, and appealed to parents to pay attention to the psychological and emotional well-being of their children. He also expressed concern over declining enrolment in government schools across Asetkong range and called for collective efforts to strengthen them.
Council chairman of Süngratsü, S. Bendang Aier, described the occasion as significant, noting that the award was instituted in 2020 following a resolution adopted at the 2019 Asetkong Mungdang conference. Since the fourth edition, the programme has been organised in collaboration with Asetkong Students’ Conference (AKTM), which also confers the AKTM Excellency Award.
Among the awardees were Tirmen Jamir of Little Star HSS, Dimapur (Top 3, Science stream), Ungnir L. Kichu of Lima Aier HSS, Dimapur (Top 8, Science stream), and Retina Jamir of Little Flower HSS, Kohima (Top 16, HSLC). The Yajen Aier Award also honoured best-performing students from Tzükong schools, including Limaonger (Class 10, GHS Longjang), Aosanen (Class 9, Clark Memorial HSS, Impur), and Sashimongla I. Longkumer (Class 8, GHS Longjang).
Recipients of the AKTM Excellency Award received Rs. 10,000 each with certificates, while the Yajen Aier Honorary Award carried Rs. 20,000 and citations. The award is named in honour of Yajen Aier, the first Education Director of the Government of Nagaland.