Nagaland Highland Hall HSS observes National Education Day with science exhibition

Highland Hall Higher Secondary School, Naga United Village, Chumoukedima, observed National Education Day on November 11 with a science exhibition commemorating the birth anniversary of India’s first Education Minister, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
The event was graced by secretary and chairperson (Addl. charge) of the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE), Rangumbuing Nsarangbe, as chief guest.
Delivering the keynote address, Nsarangbe lauded the school for fostering scientific curiosity and innovation among students. Drawing an analogy, he said, “A school is like an airport where students from diverse backgrounds are prepared to be flown to the right destination.” He encouraged students to nurture their sense of inquiry and urged parents to support their children’s questions rather than discourage them.
Highlighting the importance of science and technology in modern education, Nsarangbe stressed the need for “unlearning and relearning” to keep pace with change. He also proposed the introduction of a “Science Talk Series” at the school, where students could present topics such as rainwater harvesting, biodiversity, and the use of multimedia in learning.
Addressing teachers, he said that a teacher who is valued by the school and students is one who can inspire and transform lives. To students, he advised, “Respect your parents, obey your parents because they have sacrificed so much for you.
Respect your teachers, elders, and friends—but most importantly, fear the Lord and obey your God. Many positive things can happen if you do that.”
Touching on cultural identity, Nsarangbe expressed concern over the growing trend of children in inter-tribe families who no longer speak either parent’s mother tongue. “Language is part of our identity. Parents must help their children learn their mother tongue—it connects us to our culture, our roots, and our sense of belonging,” he said.
Following the formal programme, the chief guest, along with parents and teachers, visited the exhibition stalls and interacted with the participants.
Group 6 (“Carbon Purification”), Group 16 (“Hydraulic JCB”), and Group 7 (“Disaster Management”) were adjudged the top three winners, while five consolation prizes were awarded for outstanding effort and innovation.
In a brief interaction after the event, Nsarangbe shared that this was his third visit to the school and expressed satisfaction at the progress made over the years. He said the confidence and clarity with which students explained their models stood out the most.
Earlier, the programme began with a special rendition by Lucina, followed by a speech from the Principal, who highlighted the life and contributions of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and his vision for modern education through institutions such as the IITs, UGC, and Sahitya Akademi.