The second phase of a three-day training program for block-level resource persons in career counselling commenced on Tuesday at the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Kohima.
The training is organised by Samagra Shiksha Nagaland in collaboration with the Mumbai-based Antarang Foundation. Commissioner and Secretary for School Education and SCERT, Kevileno Angami, graced the occasion as the special guest.
In her address, she expressed gratitude to Antarang Foundation and YouthNet for their commitment to equip teachers with essential career counselling skills. She also acknowledged the role of Samagra Shiksha in facilitating the resources for this initiative.
Kevileno also highlighted the importance of career counselling in guiding students toward informed career choices.
“Many of us chose our career paths without proper guidance, and the same trend continues today. Our children often select streams under peer pressure or external influence,” she noted. She emphasized that career counselling should be an integral part of the education system to ensure students receive appropriate guidance tailored to their strengths and interests.
Antarang Foundation, which has impacted over two lakh students and collaborated with more than 2,000 schools and colleges across India, aims to introduce structured career guidance programs in Nagaland’s schools through this initiative.
Referring to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Kevileno pointed out its emphasis on curriculum flexibility and vocational education. “The education system must evolve to offer diverse career options and exposures. Schools need to provide students with information on various professions, helping them make well-informed decisions about their future,” she added.
Through this training, teachers will be equipped to assess students’ strengths and weaknesses, as well as evaluate their respective schools’ capacities in career guidance. Upon completion, they are expected to act as career counsellors in their institutions, ensuring students receive timely and relevant career advice.
She concluded by extending her best wishes to the trainees and reaffirming the government’s high expectations from educators in shaping the future workforce of Nagaland. In a short remark, Swati Mohan, joint executive director, Antarang Foundation, wished the best to the trainees and hoped the three day session will be a success. The introductory was chaired by Kelhikha Kenye, deputy mission director, Samagra Shiksha.