Correspondent
Kohima, Aug. 9 (NPN): Commissioner and secretary school education and SCERT F. P. Solo said “our future depends on what kind of education we impart to our children today”; he said this while addressing hundreds of head of education institutions from various parts of the state during a one-day seminar on “leadership skills for school management” held at capital convention centre Kohima on Tuesday. The seminar was organized by Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) in collaboration with headword publishing company for the principals of higher secondary schools or colleges.
Stressing on the role of leadership, Solo reminded that a leader was somebody who inspired, motivate others and get things done , however he said a leader must win the trust and confidence of others by being fair, just and transparent. He advised that as a head of the institution one must win over the teachers, staff and students to bring changes and improvement in the schools.
Lamenting at the present situation of school education department of the state, he said the department was plagued by problems and issues which are not actually connected with the delivery of quality education. And on these, he said much of “our attention, energy and time have been wasted on those problems which tend to ignore or sideline the core issue which is the learning outcome of the children in the schools”. He urged the gathering to find out ways and devices to improve and monitor learning outcomes of all the students in all the educational institutions in the state.
Citing the example of Great Britain, he said a small country but one time conquered many parts of the world through their able leadership quality. Lamenting at the Naga society, he said that there were too many leaders and less followers resulting in too many organizations in “our” land both overground and underground.
Chairman NBSE Asano Sekhose in her welcome address said that the objective of this seminar was to empower the principals so that they could effectively manage their school. She said with so many challenges the head of the institutions were the key persons to initiate measures to help students develop their abilities. She reminded that education imparted to the children today and the effort made by the schools would have a significant impact on “our” society tomorrow.
Sekhose said schools cannot work in isolation and the principals must foster greater relationship with the teachers, parents and students. She challenged the gathering that the success and improvement of the institution depends on how the principal execute his duties as the school leader. She opined that the seminar would enrich principals with necessary skills for better school management. The resource person, educationist, author, quizmaster, motivational speaker, social activist and social worker Barry O’ Brien in his powerful speech challenged the principals to possess the sense of humor to win students’ heart and put away ego attitude. He urged the head of the institutions to spend time with the students, teachers and parents which is the sign of love and concern. He advised the principals to have good communication with parents, teachers and students which leads to good relationship that often lead to great success.
O’ Brien also advised the principals to praise somebody in public if anything good in her/him but correct the person in private. Encouraging the gathering to cultivate the habit of praising somebody, he said it costs nothing but it works great. He also encouraged the head of the institutions to be innovative, creative, good planner, great leader, passionate, role model and so on. The resource person also explained in detail with slide show how to be an effective administrator and leader citing with great leaders of the world.
The programme was compeered by Rüchünino Rino, invocation prayer said by Asenla Temsü principal CHSS Kohima, special song was presented by students of Baptist High Kohima while vote of the thanks in the inaugural programme was proposed by SR. academic officer NBSE Iluheing Nsarangbe.
The whole seminar programme was attended by hundred of higher secondary schools and colleges principals from across the state, managing director headword publishing company Mansar Khan and officials of NBSE and SCERT.