Dimapur, February 7 (MExN): The Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) has urged the Nagaland Government to address technical glitches in the SMILE app, a digital platform designed to monitor the attendance and efficiency of teachers; and called for broader educational reforms.
In a press release, the DNSU raised concerns over technical glitches in the app, which have reportedly prevented many teachers from logging in and marking their attendance.
DNSU General Secretary, Michael Kath and Education Secretary, Kevin Gonmei stressed the urgency of addressing these technical issues to prevent unnecessary difficulties for sincere teachers who wish to comply with the system. The union maintained that for the Smile app to fulfill its intended purpose, the responsible authorities must take immediate action to rectify these glitches.
Despite recognizing the potential benefits of the SMILE App, DNSU emphasised that merely tracking attendance will not improve the quality of education in Nagaland. The organization argued that accountability cannot be limited to logging attendance but must also involve assessing the efficiency, dedication, and competence of teachers. DNSU warned that an unchecked digital attendance system could be manipulated by insincere educators, thereby undermining the very purpose of the initiative. The student body called on the government to “implement additional measures to ensure transparency, effectiveness, and genuine commitment from teachers.”
Highlighting broader systemic concerns, the DNSU also pointed to the persistent shortage of qualified subject teachers in government schools, particularly in crucial disciplines such as Mathematics and Science. The lack of competent educators in these subjects has directly impacted students’ academic performance, it stated. Additionally, the absence of necessary infrastructure further hampers vocational and digital education, as computer teachers often lack access to computers and carpentry instructors are left without proper tools, it added.
Another pressing issue raised by DNSU is the disproportionate teacher-student ratio in government schools. According to the student body, some schools have only 9-15 students but are staffed with 20-30 teachers, whereas other institutions with larger student populations suffer from a severe shortage of teaching staff. This imbalance, DNSU asserted, significantly affects the quality of education, leaving many students without adequate guidance. The union has urged the government to reassess the distribution of teachers and allocate staff based on student strength and actual needs.
Beyond the education sector, DNSU has also recommended extending the Smile app’s implementation across all government offices to enhance transparency and accountability in various departments. The organization argued that technological initiatives alone cannot improve education without structural reforms, proper resource allocation, and strict measures to retain only dedicated and efficient teachers. Without these interventions, DNSU warned that educational reforms would remain symbolic rather than transformative.
The DNSU urged concerned authorities to take immediate action to create a “fair, balanced, and effective education system in the state.”
