Dr Kekhrielhoulie Yhome and others with recipients of State Level Teachers awardees in Kohima on September 5. (Morung Photo)
• 32,714 honoured on Teachers’ Day
• September 7 declared school holiday
Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 5
Nagaland on Saturday honoured the invaluable contribution of 32,714 teachers across the state on the occasion of Teachers’ Day.
In honour of teachers, the Directorate of School Education, Nagaland, has declared September 7 as holiday for all government and private schools across the state.
In the State Level Teacher’s Day celebration 2026 organised by the Department of School Education at Khuochiezie, Kohima, Nagaland’s School Education Advisor Dr Kekhrielhoulie Yhome congratulated and thanked all the 32,714 teachers from both the government and private schools in Nagaland for their contribution towards the holistic growth of education in the state.
He said that when Nagaland attained statehood in 1963, the literacy rate was at 21.95%, and today (2025 data) showed a rise of 95.7% placing Nagaland as the third most literate state in India after Kerala and Mizoram.
Thanking the teacher for this milestone, he described teaching as a noble profession as teachers have no distinction amongst the students when it comes to showing love and care for the children.
Dr Yhome called upon the teachers to prepare the Gen Z and Gen Alpha children for leadership roles as these children will be handling the public affairs and the affairs of government as well as the private sector by 2035.
Touching on school’s ecosystem in the state, Dr Yhome said, “We are now transforming our schools on three pillars.”
With first pillar on infrastructure, he said that many government schools including private schools continues to face be a huge challenge and assured that the same will be addressed accordingly.
He said that the second pillar, aim at improving teachers training and human resource management to improve coordination between various schools, field officers and the directorate.
The third pillar, he said, is to introduce world-class education system soon into classrooms through curriculum designs and through new innovative approaches to understand and prepare a future ready manner to prepare a global 21st century skill set for children.
Calling upon the students he said, there are times when we do not appreciate ourselves, but must understand that we have the potential to produce excellence not only within ourselves, but to reach the national level as well as international level and become champions.
He lauded National Teachers 2026 awardees from Nagaland- Ronald Meru of Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS), Sechu Zubza, who received the award from President of India Droupadi Murmu today in New Delhi.
Meru was amongst the 48th National teachers awardees in the country, chosen out of 10.27 million teachers.
He also congratulated all the 12 State Level Teachers 2026 awardees.
‘Continue with dedication as an educator”
Commissioner & Secretary for School Education & SCERT, Asangla Imti, extended Teachers’ Day greetings and emphasized to reflect on the actual role of a teacher and asserted that a good teacher is not only to impart education or knowledge but also values, foster critical thinking and help a young man mitigate the challenges of life.
She said their influence goes beyond the classes, shaping characters and changing the place and growth of a society.
She also extended her gratitude to the teachers for their worthy edification, and encouraged them to continue with their dedication as an educator.
Among others, the celebration witnessed the sharing on life sketch of former President of India Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, on whose birthday the Teachers’ Day is celebrated. Mentionably, Dr Radhakrishnan inaugurated Nagaland’s statehood on 1st December 1963, as the 16th State of the Union of India.
Teachers’ Day greetings from President of India Droupadi Murmu, Nagaland’s Governor Nand Kishore Yadav and Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio was also read out on the occasion.
Dr Yhome alongwith Nagaland’s Social welfare advisor Wangpang Konyak gave away the State Level Teachers’ Award 2026 to 12 teachers across Nagaland.
School Safety Excellency Award 2026, as part of Nagaland Disaster Management School Safety Policy Compliance Course were also awarded to Nukshitemjen, PT GHS Kubulong Mokokchung and Wanglem W Konyak, PT Scout Master, Holy Angels School Tizit Town, Mon.
Nagaland’s school education principal director Shashank Pratap Singh, School education director Razouseyi Vese, Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) chairperson Rangumbuing Nsarangbe, State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) director Kerüüpfeü Rupreo also present at the celebration.
Sherinlo Keppen, GMS Tsuuma and Kikruneinuo Liezietsu, GHS Bayavu comperede the programme while vote of thanks was proposed by Deenabandhu Panda, Additional Director, Department of School Education.
State Level Teachers’ wardees 2026
• Vika S Sumi (GHS, Sitimi Kiphire)
• Albert Tungo (GHS, Forest Colony Kohima)
• Mhasikholie Sachu (TMGHSS Kohima)
• Kezhalezo Solo (GHS PWD Colony, Kohima)
• C. Pangjei Keikung (GHS Yachem, Longleng)
• Nirmal Sarkar (BGHSS, Longleng)
• Longrimendang (GHS Mangmetong, Mokokchung)
• S. Hongen Thangti Chang (GMS Shamator A, Shamator)
• Newkai (GHSS Shamator)
• P. Thsangtsumong Yimchunger (GHSS Shamator)
• Hitilo Kath (GHSS Tseminyu)
• Imnajungla (Little Star Higher Secondary School Dimapur)
