Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 6 (EMN): The Nagaland Education Association (NEA) has expressed concern over the absence of a concrete state education policy since the attainment of statehood, and educationists being left out of the consultation in the decision making process.
Sensing the outcome of education system without a clear-cut state policy, Zavise Rume, NEA president said: "If we refuse to adopt any concrete policy, it is the people who will be suffering." He was addressing a press conference at Duda guesthouse in Kohima on Sunday.
"The whole idea of the state policy on education should be essentially originated and deeply rooted in the philosophy of education and in this context, it is the educationists and subject experts who will be the right persons to explain," he said.
Throughout the country, educationists are being "sidelined and isolated" in their own field as education is considered an "easy subject" by the people, he lamented. This situation has resulted in "poor quality" of education, which in turn has degraded the very profession of the educationists, he added.
Rume pointed out that educationists are scattered in the state and do not come under one professional organisation, which is why the present education system is monopolised and handled by powerful politicians and high-ranking bureaucrats. “On the other hand, the real educationists are not being consulted or involved in the actual policy or decision making process,” Rume said.
The NEA called upon the government and public to work with the educationists and ensure their expertise is used in the decision making process. It also assured to render any professional service to the government and educational agencies in decision making.
Meanwhile, the NEA president revealed that the association has already initiated a policy research to assess the present status of education policy in Nagaland since statehood. He added that the association has collected a huge amount of relevant data for the study. It has conducted interviews with eminent scholars and educationists in the state and will continue to do so to gather resources about state policy on education in Nagaland, he added. Bweyhunle Khing, general secretary of NEA, said that the education system should be in such a way that it produces good citizens, as they can "create a good society in return". She also stressed on the importance of practical education.
NEA meeting on October 8
The NEA has convened its general body meeting at 11 am at Ura College of Teacher Education in Kohima on October 8. During the meeting, they will discuss issues relating to Nagaland state education policies and the forthcoming National Education Day to be observed at the Directorate of School Education on November 11. They will also elect the new office bearers of the association, it informed.
