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Wongthungo Tsopoe, interacting with students at TMGHSS, Kohima.[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, Sep. 13(EMN): School education department in collaboration with Samagre Shiksha, Nagaland, and Lend A Hand India (LAHI) officially launched its first phase of vocational education course, Multi-Skill Foundation Course (MSFC), for high school and higher secondary schools in Nagaland.
Speaking at the MSFC inauguration program held at Thinuovicha Memorial GHSS on Wednesday,
the director of school education, Wonthungo Tsopoe lamented Nagaland has a department for industries and commerce when the state do not even have cottage industry.
Therefore, he called upon the students to take education seriously, be trained the vocational education for a better future.
He also asked the parents to encourage their children to opt for this vocational subject and instill the importance of dignity of labour in their life.
He also stated that education is more than textual knowledge and a certificate but lamented that Nagas still have time to realise it.
The director, however shared his optimism that through the introduction of vocational courses in the education system, the state will produce more skilled and self-sufficient youths in the future.
State mission director, RMSA Limawabang Aier in his address, said the work culture in Naga society is waning away but introduction of vocational and skill-enhancement courses can steer it back to the right track.
He also said that 99% of the state resources are flowing out of the state like a river because of our ignorance and laziness, ‘so Nagas should start building a lake to contain our resources with the pool of skilled and informed youths educated with such vocational courses’.
He said that four schools were funded under CSR resources and for Kohima district, the MSFC has been implemented in TM Government Higher Secondary School (TMGHSS) and Dr.Neilhouzhü Kire HSS while in Dimapur district it has been implemented in Diphupar-A GHSS and Purana Bazaar GHSS.
Aier further said that seven schools have already been approved under vocational education for 2018-19 namely; GHSS Chumukedima, GHSS Medziphima, GHSS Chozuba Phek, GHSS Pungro Kiphiri, GHS Athibung in Peren district, GHSS Tizit Mon and GHSS Tuli under Mokokchung, in the next academic session.
The state project officer of LAHI, Parvin Yadav, interacting with media persons on the sidelines of the programme, said the MSFC program will be jointly overseered by LAHI and school education department for five years and after after which RMSA will take up the program.
He added that the program was for students from standard eight to standard twelve. He further said that students can opt out of the program after completion of the foundation course in class IX and X and still get a certificate, even if they do not opt for sector specific specialization in class XI and XII.
It should be mentioned that MSFC course includes engineering, electrical training, gardening, agriculture, food processing, welding, carpentry, plumbing, healthcare and renewable energy. Trainees will be taught by two vocational trainers, appointed by LAHI for Kohima district.
NBSE will be the certification authority for those who compete the foundation course.YouthNet is collaborating with the project as a training partner.