ANPSA Mokokchung Unit office bearers, members and guests during the Silver Jubilee celebration at Whispering Winds, Mokokchung, on March 20. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Mokokchung | March 20
The All Nagaland Private Schools’ Association (ANPSA), Mokokchung Unit, marked its Silver Jubilee on March 20 with a call for education that goes beyond academic performance to address unemployment, skills development and the changing needs of society.
The celebration, held at Whispering Winds, Mokokchung, brought together school proprietors, administrators, principals and teachers under the theme, “Towards Educational Excellence – A Legacy of Learning.” Pheluopfhelie Kesiezie, Administrator of Northfield School, Kohima and Senior Advisor of ANPSA Central, attended the programme as guest of honour.
In his address on the theme, Kesiezie said educational excellence must be measured not by “high-sounding words” alone, but by how effectively education responds to present-day challenges, particularly the growing problem of educated unemployment among youth in Nagaland.
He expressed concern that a large number of educated youths continue to aspire primarily for government jobs despite limited opportunities, and said the education system must seriously examine whether it is preparing students for the realities of life and work. Stressing the need for reform, he called for closer collaboration between educators, policymakers and the government so that education policies are aligned with the needs of society.
Drawing comparisons with countries such as South Korea and Singapore, Kesiezie said their progress was driven by long-term educational planning linked to economic goals, literacy expansion, technical skills and higher learning focused on science and technology. Nagaland, he said, must similarly rethink its priorities and encourage students towards skill-based and future-oriented learning.
On the role of teachers, Kesiezie said, “A bad teacher simply talks, a good teacher explains, an excellent teacher demonstrates, and an outstanding teacher inspires,” urging educators to aspire towards teaching that inspires and equips students for life.
In his welcome speech, Joshua Longkumer, President of ANPSA Mokokchung Unit, described the occasion as both a celebration of the association’s 25-year journey and a moment to honour the pioneers and founding members whose vision and hard work laid its foundation. He said the theme reflected the shared commitment of private schools to uplift the standard of education and contribute to the growth of society.
District Education Officer, Mokokchung, Sentinenla, in her greetings, acknowledged the significant role played by private schools in complementing the district’s educational framework and promoting quality learning. She said Mokokchung district has 250 schools, of which 191 are government institutions and 59 are private schools, while 24 schools are currently members of ANPSA Mokokchung Unit.
She observed that private schools were often outperforming the government sector in learning outcomes, standards and final examination results, although some schools continued to face challenges.
Even so, she said, all were contributing to the growth of education in the district.
She also referred to recent government efforts to improve teacher accountability through app-based attendance monitoring and the “no work, no pay” policy, while noting that private school teachers have continued to play a vital role through discipline and dedication.
