KOHIMA — Patkai Higher Secondary School in Chümoukedima won the first state-level quartet singing competition held at the Capital Cultural Hall in Kohima on Friday.
The first and second runners-up prizes were awarded LM Higher Secondary School from Mhainamtsi and Isaiah Ability Higher Secondary School from Wokha respectively.
The quartet singing competition was organised as part of the year-long golden jubilee of the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE), which was participated by 16 teams from all the districts.
Cash award of INR 40,000 was given to the winner, while INR 30,000 and INR 20,000 were awarded to the first and second runner-up teams respectively.
The event was organised by the NBSE in partnership with the ANPSA and School Education department.
Speaking at the event, former Lokayukta, Banuo Z Jamir, urged the students to never hesitate to participate in competitions when opportunity comes their way as that would add to their educational and learning experience. She also urged them to give their best in everything they do.
Holding variety of inter-school competitive events, she said, is novel and a democratic way of celebrating the significant milestone in the history of NBSE. She believed that through the quality of their participation in all those events, it would provide a very creative source for assessing the progress of learning being made in schools at the district level.
She also emphasised the importance of equipping oneself appropriately. She pointed out that proficiency in academics with focus on theoretical knowledge on its own is insufficient adding hands-on/ practical knowledge is as essential.
“Education is more than just acquiring knowledge and passing exams. It is about developing a love for learning, honing life skills, building character, nurturing curiosity, instilling a love for knowledge and honing analytical and problem solving skills. All these qualities are to be built into the educational framework for shaping a child's learning experience,” she observed.
The chairperson of NBSE, Asano Sekhose, said the singing competition is a part of the celebration of NBSE golden jubilee, which also aligns with the NEP 2020 objective of developing creativity among the children in areas such as art education, music and other art forms besides academic.
The competition is a platform for students to showcase their talents, she said while adding that talent is worth pursuing and can become a source of joy and a career.
Noting that music is a part of Naga culture and tradition, she said there are songs and music for every occasion including festivals, while working in the fields or carrying home the harvest, during husking, pulling stone monuments and in almost every aspect of lives.
She added that music is deeply rooted in the Naga folklores-- its tales of peace and war, love and betrayal, heroism and courage, poverty and prosperity.
The president of All Nagaland Private Schools’ Association (ANPSA) central, Nini Sekhose, said that golden jubilee marks not only a significant milestone but also a testament to the resilience, innovation and commitment of all those who have been a part of NBSE.
She commended their unwavering focus on nurturing young minds and fostering environment of learning and growth that has contributed to the overall progress of Nagaland’s education sector.