Weapons of Destruction or Tools of Development?

Few months back I had visited one of my friends from my native village after a gap of 5 years along with my son. It was a festival day and I had fixed an appointment with my friend before few days of the proposed visit. We reached his home at the fixed time and he and his family members warmly welcomed us. His old parents and wife fondly enquired about my family, job etc and were very happy with our visit. His wife offered us delicious sweets and went to the kitchen to make tea. My friend and I started sharing about developments of our lives and there started the continuous interruption of mobile calls from his friends and colleagues. All were conveying festival greetings and somehow I got nearly 10 minutes to talk to him out of my one hour presence in his home. While returning, with a disappointed face I said to my son, “Now I realize the other side of conveying festival greetings over mobile” .To this my son said, “You are not much different from your friend; It’s good you have realized it now.”            

Mobiles phone have revolutionized the life style in the 21^st century and plays a crucial role in bringing developments in the life of people in many ways. But at the same time, the recent trend in using smart phones by the common man and the so called educated persons is a matter of grave concern for the society. Gradually, most of the members of the society are becoming too much self- centered and characters of togetherness and humankind is disappearing from many people. With the excessive use of the device of communication, the communication within the family members at home has been decreasing drastically. Even family lunch and dinner hours witness members engaged to mobile phones at one hand and food at the other hand. The concepts of family tours and vacation trips have also changed. Instead of having interaction and good time with the group members; everyone gets engaged with their smart phones. Whenever persons visit a new place, the first thing they do is clicking of their ‘selfies’ and uploading them immediately in the social media. Enjoying the beauty of the places and learning about the people, cultures etc of the place are completely forgotten concepts now.

The inappropriate use of smart phones also affects the work culture in offices. Many employees are getting addicted to the use of online games and social networks such as WhatsApp, Facebook etc during office hours and their attention gets distracted away from the works. Even many officers keep snooping on their smart phones during public interviews & official discussions. Situations in schools where values are inculcated on children are no different. Students found using mobile phones inside the school campus are punished but many teachers continue to use their mobiles even inside the class rooms without any guilty.

The adverse effects of the excess and unsystematic use of smart phones and the social media would bring great harm to the society as it would gradually change the attitude of people towards life and the fellow human beings. We may not realize the impacts of it immediately but within a decade we may be living in a virtual world which is far away from reality. I am not saying that one should completely keep away from the use of smart phones and the social media. All we need to do is use them with proper schedule without affecting our commitments to family, employers and the society. 

History of Higher Secondary Education: A Flashback

The present system of Higher Secondary Education is the outcome of intensive researches made by numerous Education Commissions and Eminent Educationists, brainstorming deliberations and discussions by different Committees and Conferences during the last 100 years. Prior to the introduction of the Higher Secondary Education, the duration of the school course was 11 years and the 2 years Intermediate Education was exclusively a part of collegiate education that offered 2 years degree course. Thus the dividing line between the School and University courses was drawn at Matriculation. The journey of the Higher Secondary Education started way back in 1917 with the appointment of the Calcutta University Commission popularly known as the Saddler Commission. It was the first Commission that suggested to make the duration of school education to 12 years and to put forward the idea of restructuring of education in the shape of 10 + 2+ 3.

The University Education Commission (1948-49) also known as the Radhakrishnan Commission under the Chairmanship of Dr S Radhakrishnan also recommended for adoption of a uniform pattern of 10 + 2 + 3 for the entire country. The Secondary Education Commission (1952-53) popularly known as the Mudaliar Commission recommended adding the first year of the Intermediate course to the Schools and the second year to the 2 year under graduate degree course so as to create the 3 year degree course.

The Planning Commission Panel (1960), the third conference of the Vice-Chancellors of Indian Universities (1961), The Central Advisory Board of Education Meeting (1962), The Conference of the State Education Ministers, Vice – Chancellors and Eminent Educationists (1963) had all recommended the same 12 years of school education up to the Higher Secondary level and 3 years of first degree course. The Education Commission or the Kothari Commission (1964-66) also recommended the present structure of 10+2+3 pattern of education.

After long years of deliberations and recommendations of different Education Commissions, the Government of India had notified the National Policy on Education 1968 and the National Structure of Education (10 + 2 + 3) came in to existence. Thus the process of upgrading of High Schools into Higher Secondary schools began from the implementation of NPE 1968. But, the two year Higher Secondary course at the beginning was conducted both at the schools and the colleges.  Later, the objectives of the school education covering the +2 stage of last two years were redrafted under the National Policy on Education 1986. The new policy of 1986 clearly recommended the +2 stage or the senior secondary education to be properly belongs to the school education and the colleges offering +2 stage of education were asked to transfer those classes to the schools.

The history of Higher Secondary Education described above makes it crystal clear that the higher secondary classes 11 & 12 are integral part of the school education and I need not explain why the finest brains of our country had brought this system into existence. The higher secondary stage of education is a crucial stage in the academic career of children as diversion of professional selection takes place during this stage. The educational administrators and teachers should remember one thing at this juncture. Even though the diversification of course of studies starts after passing of class 10, children should be helped to identify their natural aptitude and inclination towards the different courses when they are in classes 9 and 10.

New Staffing Pattern in Nagaland Govt. Higher Secondary Schools

A debate has been initiated in the media about the proposed implementation of the new staffing pattern in the Govt. Higher Secondary Schools of Nagaland. A section of the employees of the education department opposes the new pattern and threaten with agitations while another section appreciates the department for the initiation. I would like to share my views about the new staffing pattern here in the interest of thousands of rural Govt. school students who suffer due to acute shortage of teachers. I would confidently say that the proposed new staffing pattern of education department would stand as a milestone in the history of the department and is really a bold step taken by the policy makers towards correcting the mistakes committed for more than few decades.

Of course the new staffing pattern is not free from lapses; but one should understand that occurrence of few lapses is quite common with implementation of any innovative idea. The drawbacks of the system could be brought to the notice of the Government and I am sure that the concerned authorities would definitely look in to the genuine concerns of the employees. But opposing a novel initiation of the Govt. with utter selfishness is nothing but committing a sin against the poor people of Nagaland.

People may cite many reasons for opposing the new staffing pattern. But the real fact hidden behind the opposition is very simple. A section of the influential officers who ‘managed’ to get posted in the district headquarters doesn't like to move away from their comfortable posting places. We all know that most of the Govt. Higher Secondary Schools are situated in district and subdivision headquarters. If the HMs, AHMs and few Graduate Teachers from the GHSSs are redeployed to other High schools, they will have to give away few comforts and this is the major reason for their opposition. Here an important fact has been conveniently hidden by the associations which oppose the new pattern. They propagate that the Govt. has ordered redeployment of all the Graduate Teachers from the GHSSs. But this is not true. Few Graduate and Under Graduate teachers would be retained in the GHSSs and we could always demand more teachers depending on the strength of students.

Let me present a factual figure about a particular GHSS in Nagaland as a sample for your understanding of  the financial implications of the new pattern. A GHSS having 35 teaching staff now would have 24 teaching staff under the new staffing pattern and the affairs of the school could still be managed comfortably within the prescribed workload of the teachers. With the implementation of the new pattern, approximately Rs.5,20,000/-(Rupees five lakh twenty thousand) per month would be saved from this single school. Please take the trouble of calculating the amount spent unnecessarily for a period of 10 years in one school itself where as hundreds of schools are suffering without teachers in the rural areas.

The opposing associations has stated that the ‘Junior Post Graduate Teachers’ will not be able to manage the disciplinary issues arising in the secondary section of the schools without the Senior Graduate Teachers. Dear friends, where you all got posted initially as Senior Graduate Teachers? Let us not forget that most of the Post Graduate Teachers are trained (Possesses B.Ed degree) and been selected through tough competitive exams conducted by NPSC. Instead of opposing the novel initiative of the department for the convenient of few individuals, why don’t we have a healthy competition in improving the quality of education in the Govt. High Schools managed by the Headmasters and the Govt. Higher Secondary Schools managed by the Principals?

Could technology change the Work Culture of Govt. Schools?

At the outset let me make one thing clear here; that I am not writing this article to please the boss of my department. I sincerely believe that I am expressing the thoughts of lakhs and lakhs of poor people who do not get the opportunity to put their words of appreciation in the print media. Shri Yitachu, Hon’ble Parliamentary Secretary for School Education, Nagaland has acknowledged that poor attendance and insincerity of staff is a major problem towards development and appealed to all to re-dedicate and work hard to reach out to every section of the society. He has also said, “It is high time the DSE takes corrective measures where it has gone wrong; improve where it has done well and re-strengthen wherever there are good achievements”. I would have considered his speech as one among those of VIPs that many do not take into heart. But his declaration of introducing biometric system of attendance in Govt. Schools and offices of the Education Department from the year 2015 made me to believe that history will definitely remember him if he makes his words into reality.

Even though many honest and upright officers wish to perform duties sincerely, they become handicapped in the corrupt system that is being influenced by muscle/gun power. In today’s world technology is the most powerful weapon that could help us to clean the system and we must make best use of it. Our Parliamentary Secretary’s plan would definitely bring drastic changes in the way of functioning of Govt. Schools in our state and would ultimately change the society within short time. I have been stressing that school is the best place to begin actions for social change and nothing could be achieved without practically eliminating the evil practices being followed in schools.

Let me take this opportunity to describe few incidents to show how we have been teaching corrupt practices to our children from their childhood and later blame them for all the unwise things in life. Most of the children knew well that the date of birth entered in their school record is not the actual one and the birth certificate was purchased for few hundred rupees. So, corruption begins at the very first day of one’s schooling life. Some people may say students of Govt. School are dull and dump. But they would surely know who their real teachers are and who the proxies are. When teachers arrive late and classes are not occupied they may play happily inside the class rooms. They may not ask us now as to why their Govt. schools starts at 9:00 a.m and get over at 12:30 p.m where as the nearby private schools starts at 8:00 a.m and get over at 2:00 p.m. But they may direct their anger towards the society or become a burden to the society when they realize that they get defeated in employment opportunities because they are ill equipped.

The officers and teachers of the Education Department know well about the limitations of the Govt. schools and that is why most of our children are studying in the nearby private schools.  I do not put the entire blame on the Govt. school teachers and authorities but personally feel that we are responsible for the lapses to a great extend. I am confident that the initiative of our Hon’ble Parliamentary Secretary would be a mile stone in the functioning of the Govt. schools and pray that the almighty bless him with the strength to implement the noble scheme 

Border Issues – Role of School Authorities

When I was invited by Shri Orenthung Lotha, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Bhandari to join at the Tokhu Emong celebration on 7th Nov. '14 at his official residence, I had no clue that I was going to attend a social gathering that has the potential to bring peace in the disturbed Assam Nagaland border area. It was a rare privilege for a school Principal to be part of a gathering that had personalities such as Niten Khare , Deputy Commissioner , Golaghat, Preetipal Singh, Superintendent of Police, Golaghat, Avinash Saran, Commanding Officer , 142 CRPF, D.K Mishra, Sub Divisional Officer (C), Dhansripar, Major Deepak Rathore, Post Commander, 17 Assam Rifles, Vishant, Sector Commander ‘D’ Sector CRPF  and many prominent public leaders from Wokha and Bhandari.

The celebration was so impressive that true sense of friendliness prevailed with everyone from the beginning till the end of the programme. The event also exposed the artistic talents hidden behind the official positions of many senior officers. We may not always be fortunate to enjoy light music performed by the above dignitaries.

We all know that the border issue between the neighboring states is not a problem that could be solved overnight. But the initiation of the ADC definitely instills faith that a workable solution to the border issues could be found out in the coming days. The District Administration of a State plays vital role in administering the affairs of the State Govt. and having considerate officers who have mutual understanding at the helms is very much essential and crucial for maintaining peace in regions where people encounter frequent conflicts.

The initiation of the ADC made me to realize a responsibility that the society has bestowed on school authorities. We all know that school is the best place to start efforts of social changes and every school in the regions of conflicts should devise cultural programmes and sports events that would bring students of the neighboring states in one platform. Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders and developing understanding among the young generation of the border areas would eventually lead to weed out the conflicts in the coming days.

I have already begun my work in this aspect with the active support of my colleagues and I convey my sincere appreciation and gratitude to Shri Orenthung Lotha, ADC for guiding us through his noble initiation and dedication.