Mind the Education Gap

If there is one sector in Nagaland that has experienced substantial growth over the years, it has to be education. Driven by various factors, including the realisation of the need for quality education in order to excel in life and to break free from the cycle of poverty, besides awareness brought about by civil societies, churches, and religious organisations, the literacy rate in the state has spiked – from 66.59% in 2001 to 79.55% in a decade, as per the 2011 Census. This is higher than the national average of 74.04%, which is nothing short of impressive. The figures must have improved even further over the last 14 years. What is even more encouraging is the narrowing of the gender gap in education, which is reflected in the results of board examinations conducted by the NBSE and consistent improvement in pass percentage across the state. However, the divide between the urban and rural populations in terms of education is a matter of concern, something the concerned authorities can’t afford to turn a blind eye to.

Surprisingly, the gross disparity in distribution of educational institutions, especially at intermediate and undergraduate levels, rarely finds space for public discourse. As per the official data, out of the total 17 districts in the state, only six – Dimapur, Chümoukedima, Kohima, Tuensang, Mokokchung, and Peren – have higher secondary schools that offer courses in the Commerce stream, while the Science stream is not available in Niuland, Tseminyu, Meluri, Shamator and Noklak for Class 12. As for 77 colleges affiliated with Nagaland University (NU), 24 of them are in Kohima, 21 in Dimapur, nine in Chümoukedima, seven in Mokokchung and three in Mon, while four districts have two colleges each and five others have one college each. And as many as three districts in the state do not have even a single college. With most educational institutions concentrated in urban areas, people in remote areas are forced to send their children to other districts, particularly to Kohima and Dimapur for higher studies, causing immense financial stress to many families, while others simply don’t have the resources. To ensure access to higher education for rural populations, the concerned authorities should establish institutions at strategic areas and district headquarters. Failure to provide educational opportunities will only result in wider gaps in academic achievement. The ramifications can be profound – socially, politically and economically.