Government school students secure ranks in HSLC, HSSLC 2026, challenging dominance of private institutions in Nagaland merit lists
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DIMAPUR — In a year where private institutions dominated the state merit lists, three students from government schools secured top rankings in 2026 HSLC and HSSLC examinations, challenging long-held perceptions about state-run institutions.
Sreeniti Mahapatra of Government High School, Yachem in Longleng district secured the 19th rank in the HSLC examination with 95%, emerging as the only government school student among 80 rank holders, 79 of whom were from private institutions.
In the HSSLC examinations, Pooja Bharti of PM Shri Government Higher Secondary School, Chümoukedima secured the 7th rank in the Arts stream with 94.20%, while Moaakum T Longkumer of PM SHRI Mayangnokcha Government Higher Secondary School, Mokokchung secured the 10th rank in the Science stream with 91.40%. Both were the only government school rank holders in their respective streams.
A lone government HSLC rank holder
Speaking to Eastern Mirror from Kolkata, Mahapatra, 15, said she joined Government High School, Yachem in Class 8 after studying in Kolkata till Class 7. Her father, a teacher at the school for over 25 years, had often spoken about its discipline and environment, which drew her to it even before joining. She was also encouraged by the school’s 100% pass record for the past three consecutive years.
“The last two years at GHS Yachem made me very happy and helped me grow both academically and personally,” she said.
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She began preparing for the board examination from the start of the academic session, focusing on regular classes and solving previous years’ question papers. “I divided time among all subjects and gave more attention to those I was weak in,” she said.
Agriculture, introduced as a sixth subject, was initially difficult due to technical terms and concepts. “Our Agriculture teacher supported me a lot and provided helpful notes before the exam. With the teacher’s guidance, regular revision, and practice, I overcame the difficulty,” she said.
She said studying in a government school helped her develop discipline and sincerity. “One of the biggest advantages was that there was no pressure of fees, which allowed us to focus fully on studies,” she said. With fewer students, she could approach teachers anytime to clear doubts. She also credited the support of the SMDC members, village council and students’ union.
Mahapatra did not take private tuition, relying instead on school teachers and occasional help from her father in Mathematics.
“I feel very proud and honoured to represent government schools in the merit list,” she said. She noted that government schools are often underestimated and people assume that proper studies do not take place there. “In my experience, this is not true. Government schools have educated, well-trained teachers, hardworking students and a good learning environment” she said.
She said she expected to do well but not to make the merit list, calling the result a “pleasant surprise” for her family and school.
“This result is not only my achievement, but also a matter of pride for my school, teachers, and all government institutions,” she added.
Planning to take the Science stream, she aims to become a doctor and appear for NEET. She also urged the government to strengthen state-run institutions with better resources and facilities.
Consistency and mindset
Pooja Bharti, who secured the 7th rank in the Arts stream, said she wants to break the misconception that private schools are better than government schools. Having studied in both, she said both systems offer equally qualified teachers and opportunities. “It is all about mind-set and judging,” she said.
After completing HSLC in a private school and shifting to a government institution for higher secondary, she said there was no difference in the learning experience. She scored the highest in Sociology with 99 marks.
Aspiring to pursue Law, she said History was her most challenging subject. Without enrolling in private tuition, she relied on YouTube for study materials and support from teachers. She added that her phone was never a distraction as it was used only for educational purposes.
Meanwhile, Moaakum T Longkumer said institutions should not be judged by infrastructure alone, noting that both government and private schools have capable teachers and should be treated equally in terms of education, faculty and facilities.
Having studied in both systems, he said it is unfair to stereotype government schools, adding that such bias affects not only institutions but also teachers. “Students have equal responsibility in bringing better results, not just teachers,” he said.
Longkumer, who had earlier secured a top 12 position in the HSLC examination from Edith Douglas Higher Secondary School, said he did not expect a rank this time, though he had anticipated good marks. He found Physics and Mathematics challenging but overcame them through regular practice, scoring highest in Information Technology with 95 marks.
Crediting his teachers, he said they were always ready to clear doubts and arranged extra classes. He plans to pursue B.Sc in Physics.
He also noted that initiatives such as monitoring teacher attendance and the “no work, no pay” principle were encouraging for government schools.
Both Bharti and Longkumer said consistency was key to their preparation. They avoided long study hours and instead studied for one to two hours daily with a flexible routine.