A total of 108 students from the HSLC 2023 and 2024 batches were awarded with the Chief Minister’s Meritorious Students Fellowship (CMMSF) during a ceremony held at the Capital Convention Centre, Kohima, on Saturday.
Advisor for School Education & SCERT, Dr. Kekhrielhoulie Yhome, addressed the gathering, highlighting the significance of the fellowship, which was first launched in 2019. He informed that among the awardees, 37 girls and 14 boys from the 2023 batch and 41 girls and 16 boys from the 2024 batch were selected.
He expressed his admiration for the students, saying that the students represents the Naga youth and congratulated them for their achievement.
Yhome also noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE), established in 1974. He said that the history of the state is short, but it is enriched with a wealth of traditional knowledge.
Yhome stated that today’s world is more interconnected than ever before. While identifying the right path for the future is challenging, he observed that a new leadership is emerging among the youth. He also emphasised that, despite India’s rapid progress, most achievers are from urban areas.
The legislator acknowledged the challenges faced by students, especially those from rural areas, due to Nagaland’s geographical constraints. He emphasized the need to bridge the educational gap between urban and rural students and highlighted the state’s high dropout rate, which remains a significant concern.
As efforts to expand educational opportunities continue, he said that it is noteworthy that 1,439 students successfully completed their matriculation from Mon district. However, a significant portion of students who achieve academic success come from specific areas.
With over 2.59 lakh students in the state, including 1.47 lakh in government schools across 1,937 institutions, the challenges, he observed, are immense.
Nagaland has one of the highest dropout rates in the country, he said, highlighting the need for continued focus and support in education.
The students were reminded that they were among the fortunate ones, yet their achievements would hold little value if not accompanied by a commitment to giving back to society.
He encouraged the students to give back to society, advising them that their achievements become meaningless if they do not give back to society.
The Advisor further emphasised the importance of embracing the global world, which is now more connected than ever, and urged the students to use their education as a tool for positive change.
NBSE chairperson Asano Sekhose, in her address, elaborated on the Chief Minister’s Meritorious Students Fellowship which was introduced to boost students in their academics. She explained that the fellowship is awarded to the top 50 students based on their rank and marks in the HSLC Examination, with the selection limited to students belonging to the indigenous Naga tribes.
Sekhose highlighted that the fellowship, which includes a citation and a cash award of Rs 50,000, is granted for a period of five years. However, to continue receiving the fellowship, students must maintain an annual academic performance of at least 80 percent. Failure to meet this criterion would result in the discontinuation of the fellowship.
She informed that the first felicitation was held on 31 January 2020 and the top 50 rank holders of HSLC 2019, including 55 students, were awarded with the first installment of Rs 50,000 along with citation certificate to each student at a function held in Kohima where the Chief Minister felicitated the achievers in the presence of the Council of Ministers, Advisors and the parents.
Due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, for HSLC Examination 2020 batch, the second edition of felicitation programme was held virtually on 21 July, 2021, at the Chief Minister’s Office. She informec that the Fellowship amount was transferred to the personal account of the recipients from 22 July to the 51 eligible candidates of HSLC Examination 2020. The Citation Certificates signed by the Chief Minister were also given to the students.
In HSLC Examination 2021 batch, 50 students are eligible for the award of CMMSF. In HSLC Examination 2022 batch, 52 students are eligible for the award of CMMSF. On 5th September 2022, HSLC 2021 (50 students) and 2022 batches (52 students) were awarded with the Fellowship.
She informed that 208 students are already beneficiaries of the CMMSF and 106 students including 57 from HSLC 2023 batch and 51 students from HSLC 2024 are eligible for the CMMSF.