Tokheho assures to provide math, science teachers in govt schools

Speaking at the 2nd All Nagaland Government School Teachers’ Conference held at NBCC Convention Hall, here, the minister assured that science and mathematics teachers would be provided within the next few months.

Asserting that it could not be possible to bring drastic change to the problems instantly, the minister however reminded the teachers that if everybody put in efforts they could produce better answers to the problems.

On the prevalence of proxy teachers, the minister insisted that all the teachers, village education committees and village councils undertake a written pledge not to entertain proxy teachers and also not to seek attachment in offices. Tokheho reminded that the teachers were appointed to teach the students and not to work as ministerial staff.

On the issue of Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) Hindi teachers, the minister said the fate of 1, 379 Hindi teachers have become a big issue following the termination of the scheme by the ministry of human resource development (MHRD) from April 2017. He, however, asserted that the department were seriously examining how to absorb all those teachers.

Tokheho also pointed out that there was another standing order from MHRD that all untrained elementary teachers have to be trained on or before March 31, 2019 as per the Parliament Amendment Act section 23 (2) of the Right to Education.

He said it has been mandatory that no untrained teachers would be allowed to continue in service including the government aided private schools beyond March 31, 2019. Tokheho said that if any teachers cannot undergo training in line with MHRD directives, it would be better for those teachers to go on voluntary retirement in peace.

On transfer and posting of employees in the department, the minister said the time has come to frame rules so as to do away with undue advantage and privileges taken by some employees to remain in particular place only.

Further, admitting that there were many things that needed to be done in the department, the minister said the goals could be achieved by working together in mutual understanding with a sense of belonging from top to bottom.

In his keynote address, SCERT director, Khrietuo Mezhür, said also mentioned the directives of the MHRD to obtain training by March 2019 and urged the teachers to get registered and obtain a certificate of diploma in elementary education by 2019.

He said the new textbooks would be introduced after review by the committee during the next academic session, wherein alternative English would be to be replaced by Naga Heritage study, a collection of stories from all different tribes, folklores and folktales.

Also, speaking at the conference, the principal secretary, school education & SCERT, FP Solo, urged the department officials and all the stakeholders to work a little further and support the endeavour of the minister who had high vision for the department.

He also appealed the NBCC to launch a clean election campaign even in schools so as to sensitize and create awareness on the menace of proxy teachers, absentees, non performing teachers and schools, malpractices of village education committee and other issues that was being confronted by the department.

Solo further challenged all the teachers serving in the government sector to work harder and be on a par with teachers serving in the private sector. He said that respect cannot be claimed as a matter of right, rather it has to be earned by dint of hard work and commitment.

Principal director Smiti Sarangi, school education director, Wonthungo Tsopoe, RMSA MD Limawapang, department officials and others attended the conference.