Dr Kekhrielhoulie Yhome with others during the launch of the School Quality Assessment Pilot in Kohima on September 10. (Morung Photo)
School Quality Assessment Pilot launched in Kohima
Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 10
Nagaland is moving towards a new system of school standards that will assess institutions beyond examination results, Nagaland’s School Education Advisor Dr Kekhrielhoulie Yhome said.
The new system will include a wide range of parameters covering school infrastructure, governance, teaching and learning, he added while launching the School Quality Assessment Pilot in Kohima at the Capital Convention Centre on Thursday.
Induction training for school heads and monitoring officers involved in the assessment was also conducted.
Dr Yhome stated that the new assessment system would cover 350 elements and 177 units, with schools to be evaluated regularly across different domains.
He said the initiative was part of broader efforts under Mission SOAR (Systems for Outstanding Achievements and Reformation) to standardise and strengthen the school education system in Nagaland.
Dr Yhome said the State would gradually introduce more global and future-ready skills into the school curriculum, particularly in mathematics, science and English.
He said the curriculum would also incorporate elements aligned with the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
He stressed the need to hasten curriculum reforms while acknowledging that schools and teachers would require preparation to handle new materials and approaches.
He said the government was also focusing on digital literacy and emerging technologies in schools.
He said the State had signed an MoU worth Rs 100 million (Rs 10 crore) with Google, with plans to bring in global IT sector partners through corporate social responsibility initiatives.
He also highlighted plans to collaborate with IIT Delhi on curriculum development and certification for students.
On teacher development, Yhome said the School Leadership Academy had been established to strengthen the capacity of teachers and school leaders. He said teachers would be required to undergo training before becoming eligible for promotion under the new system.
Local history for school textbooks
Dr Yhome also called for stronger standardisation among government and private schools, including norms relating to teacher quality, school fees, classroom strength and other areas.
He said the government was evaluating the existing teacher education system and would move towards the Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP) in line with changing requirements in teacher education.
Emphasising the importance of local history and knowledge, Dr Yhome said Nagaland’s biodiversity, natural and human resources, Article 371A, BEFR and ILP should find a place in school textbooks.
He said curriculum development should help children understand and take pride in Nagaland’s unique history, culture and identity.
He stressed the importance of the neighbourhood school principle, saying children should have access to schools closer to their homes. He cited school-related traffic congestion in Kohima as an issue that could be addressed through better school planning and coordination.
He said the new school quality framework should not be viewed merely as an additional compliance burden but as a mechanism to improve the overall quality and functioning of schools.
Earlier, Karishma Shanghvi, Director, Elevate Foundation, highlighted the background of Mission SOAR and the school quality assessment framework.
Snehal Joshi, Chief of Staff, Shikha Academy, led a question-and-answer session.
Kevisato Sanyu, Director, Elevate Foundation, delivered the welcome address, while Georgina Yhome, Academic Manager, Elevate Foundation, chaired the programme.
The School Quality Assessment Pilot in Kohima was a joint initiative of the Elevate Foundation, the Department of School Education, Nagaland, and Mission SOAR.
