GHSS Purana Bazar in Dimapur gets a new building after 65 years.
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DIMAPUR — Sixty-five years after its establishment, Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS) Purana Bazar in Dimapur received its new building with the inauguration of the facility by Advisor for Industries & Commerce Hekani Jakhalu on Friday.
Addressing the inauguration programme, the advisor implored the teachers to reflect if they are giving their best to the work that pays them salary and feeds their family, and whether it was fair in the eyes of God. Jakhalu urged the staff to reflect if they are doing justice to their jobs.
She also reminded the students that their parents sacrifice personal needs to provide for them and urged them not to cheat parents, guardians or themselves by attending school without effort.
With the new building ready, she told the students that they have no reason to complain or fail anymore.
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Jakhalu cited Rüzhükhrie Government High School, Kohima, as proof that government school students can become officers, doctors and businessmen as she said “even if your parents are farmers, you can reach the top—but only if you work hard”.
Also pointing out to a Satakha school where the community pooled resources to ensure mid-day meals despite delays, she asserted “this is not the department’s school or the government’s school. This is our school,” and urged community leaders, teachers and parents to work together so GHSS Purana Bazar becomes one of Nagaland’s best-performing schools.
School to introduce Commerce stream
Principal Pipi Gloria Chishi shared that GHSS Purana Bazar, established in 1961, was taken over by the government in 1978 and upgraded to a higher secondary school in 2017.
She described the institution as a “beacon of learning,” noting that for years it functioned from a dilapidated and unsafe building.
Despite these challenges, the school maintained its academic spirit. Chishi said she often reminded students that “it is not the building, but the will to learn that matters,” while acknowledging that proper infrastructure is essential for better learning outcomes and teacher motivation. The new building now provides a safer and more conducive environment.
She highlighted a key challenge: high student migration. Around 80% of students come from remote areas and often stay only briefly, making it difficult to ensure continuity and foster a strong sense of belonging.
Among the school’s priorities are furnishing classrooms, ensuring safe drinking water, and improving laboratory and library facilities. Chishi also expressed hope to convert the old campus into a playground for students and the community, addressing the lack of open spaces in Purana Bazar.
Additionally, the school aims to introduce a Commerce stream in Class 11, noting its absence in government higher secondary schools in Dimapur.
Commissioner & Secretary of School Education and SCERT, Kevileno Angami, the special guest, stated that the new school facility was supported under the State Plan and completed between 2019 and 2025 with assistance from a NABARD loan.
She noted that while Samagra Shiksha provides for school infrastructure, central funding allowed only the construction of three rooms on the top floor along with vocational facilities.
She assured that the department would examine additional requirements raised by the school principal. Highlighting the school’s strength, she said that with around 550 students, over 30 teachers, and 17 non-teaching staff, GHSS Purana Bazar has a relatively strong workforce compared to many schools in the state.
Angami emphasised that while infrastructure improves the learning environment, its true purpose must not be overlooked. “A concrete structure encourages learning, but if we lose the objective, the purpose is lost,” she said, stressing that the building is meant to nurture students.
Appealing to teachers as the pillars of the education system, she urged them to ensure meaningful classroom engagement. She also underscored the broader goal of education—to nurture kind, responsible individuals who contribute positively to society.
Calling for community involvement, she said all stakeholders—teachers, parents, students, and leaders—play a vital role, adding that schools with strong community support tend to perform better.