An alternative to Alt English: SCERT to introduce ‘Heritage Study’ soon

Our Correspondent
KOHIMA, MAY 29

The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) Nagaland is all set introduce an alternative subject called the “Heritage Study” in place of the regular “Alternative English” subject currently being taught at schools in Nagaland.
This information was shared today by the director of SCERT, Vipralhou Kesiezie while delivering the introductory speech at the celebration of “International Arts Education Week” (IAEW) at SCERT conference hall, Kohima.
According to the SCERT director, the new subject would be introduced soon for classes V-VIII across schools in Nagaland. “This change, which is done with the approval of the State Level Education Committee (2014), has been necessitated because of the fact that Alternative English has been introduced in schools in lieu of Mother Tongue, although Alternative English is never a substitute of our Mother Tongue,” he said.
Kesiezie informed that almost 90% of the students in Nagaland choose “Alternative English” over their Mother Tongue, the consequence of which is lack of knowledge among the students of their own language and culture.
So by that reasoning, he said, the introduction of the new subject “Heritage Study” would ensure that the gap is bridged by way of implanting the rich cultural heritage of the Nagas among the young school students.“We hope and believe that by introducing this new subject, we will be able to inculcate the traditional and cultural values of the Nagas,” he shared while informing that the new subject would cover wide ranging cultural heritage relating to “history, folk tales, legends, poems, dances, music, games and sports, tribal way of life, dresses/attires, food, cultivation” and all related aspects.
Kesiezie also observed that “most of the Nagas go for comfort in terms of dressing”, thereby condemning our traditional wears to the backseat. He strongly suggested that we “need to adapt ourselves to our own culture in terms of wearing and promoting our own traditional dresses and attires occasionally.”
He also suggested that the IAEW should be celebrated in the last week of May every year by all the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) and schools in Nagaland.
The SCERT Nagaland, he announced, will soon be introducing a 2-year Diploma course in Visual and Performing Arts at DIETs from 2016 session onwards.
The “International Arts Education Week” is an initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Likewise in India, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), New Delhi, has been taking the initiative in celebrating the IAEW since 2012.
This year, the NCERT has requested all SCERTs in the country to organize and celebrate the IAEW in the last week of May 2015. The Nagaland version of the celebration today was held under the theme “Folk tunes of Nagaland”.
Nagaland University Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof A Lanunungsang Ao, who graced the function as the chief guest, in his address appreciated the concept of the program.
He stressed on the importance of ‘value education’. He shared that “we tend to neglect value education more often. In this age of revolution, it’s important we first identify our potentials to march ahead,” he said.
During the celebration, cultural items were presented by various tribes of Nagaland, while a traditional parade was also presented by the Teacher Trainees of DIET, Chiechama. This was followed by a display of traditional attires.