Rio calls for end to proxy teachers

Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio has asked the Department of School Education (DoSE) to show ‘zero tolerance’ to government teachers who were keeping proxies and to put an end to such practises.
He was addressing a congregation of teachers from both government and private schools, at the State-level Teachers’ Day celebration at Capital Cultural Hall here on Monday.
Rio also informed that the State government will be launching a Teachers’ Attendance Monitoring System soon, as part of a World Bank programme. He expressed the hope that the will put an end to proxy teachers and help improve attendance of teachers. The chief minister asked the people to introspect and question why such practices are happening and how to end them.
He also admitted that success in examinations was important and so teachers need to impart the youth with skills which are not prescribed in the syllabus.
Rio urged upon teachers to create a positive environment in schools and at the same time, to serve as inspiration to their students .
The chief minister also mentioned that the teacher:student ratio in the state stood at 1:12 as compared to 1:27 at the national level. He said the figure was even better in government schools (1:7). Rio said the role of teachers was crucial in the villages, especially remote areas where students had less access to private schools.
He however lamented that the performance of government schools were not as expected despite the healthy teacher-student ratio and despite government teachers being often more qualified than teachers in private educational institutions.
He urged upon government teachers to look for ways to match the performance of their schools at par with private schools or even perform better.
Rio acknowledged that DoSE has had its own share of problems which had accumulated over the years but were now being resolved.
He also commended department officials for resolving most issues and encouraged them to keep up with the performance.
Rio also disclosed that DoSE had mainstreamed eligible teachers recruited through open advertisement under the erstwhile SSA and RMSA of 2010 and 2013 batches and also granted them RoP 2010.
He said even promotions were now being handled promptly as the government was working towards streamlining the teacher recruitment process through a process of transparency and ensuring equal opportunity to all candidates.
He sought support of the teaching community by emphasising that teachers and the government should work hand-in-hand to produce more educated, skilled, productive, disciplined, ethical and empathetic citizens in the days to come.
He said teaching was a “noble profession” and acknowledged the hard work put in by all teachers and expressed the hope they would continue to do so.
The chief minister also handed out the State Teachers’ Day Award and Chief Ministers’ Meritorious Fellowship Scholarship (CMMFS) to toppers of HSLC exams 2021 and 2022.
He congratulated head teacher of Government Middle School, Officers’ Hill, Kohima, Mimi Yhoshü for being awarded the National Teachers’ Award.
Earlier, in his speech, KT Sukhalu Adviser School Education and SCERT, said teachers play a key role in shaping the future as they guided and shaped the destiny of their students by influencing their mind, thoughts and lives. He said in turn, these impacted growth, direction and development of the society.
He mentioned that currently there were more than 31,000 teachers in all government, private and Central schools in Nagaland.
He pointed out the current progress of the State could be credited to the dedication of teachers, who moulded and shaped current leaders and thinkers in the society and for which, people were grateful to for their commitment and service.
Sukhalu also reminded that the role of teachers had evolved from teaching in conventional mode of contact teaching to using of various mediums to keep students meaningfully engaged even when they could not attend classes.
He pointed out there were many exercises done behind the scenes to ensure that teaching and learning could be continued for all.
He commended those teachers who had stayed in their work stations and continued to give their best for the students under their care despite the challenges.
During the programme, the National Anthem was performed by students of TM Government Higher Secondary School, Kohima. Invocation was pronounced by Calvary Baptist Church, Jotsoma, pastor Rev Kelhuseto Nagi.
DoSE & SCERT commissioner & secretary Kevileno Angami delivered the welcome address.
Special presentations were given by Mt Sinai Higher Secondary School, Kohima, Arolü Phesao from Vineyard School Kohima, Government High School, New Market, Kohima and Pilgrim Higher Secondary School, Kuda B, Dimapur.
Students of Little Higher Secondary honoured the teachers present on the occasion.
Vote of thanks was proposed by DoSE principal director Thavaseelan K.
Earlier, Teacher’s Day flag was unfurled by the chief minister.
The programme was also attended by Urban Development and Municipal Affairs adviser Neikiesalie Nicky Kire, Tourism and Art & Culture adviser Khehovi Yepthomi, Election and Higher Education adviser Medo Yhokha, legislators Yitachu and Khriehu Liezietsu, senior government officials, teachers, students, etc.
During the programme, three programmes, including Nagaland Reading Festival, Digital Diary for Government Teachers and A Question A Day (AQAD) were launched.