Tuensang faces admission crisis in higher secondary; students left without options

CWS cries apathy of education dept, halts admission process 

Moses Hongang Chang 
Tuensang | June 6 

Tuensang district is presently grabbling with severe shortage of higher secondary schools leaving numerous students without viable options. Students eager to pursue their higher education are facing an uphill battle as they scramble to secure admission in a limited number of higher secondary schools.

The recently declared results of Nagaland Board of School Education had a pass percentage of 70.32% for HSLC. Out of which, the government schools scored 35% and private schools 79% pass percentage. This is a significant improvement as compared to HSLC results of 2022 in which the government schools scored 22% and private schools 67%.

With the increase in the number of students passing the exams, problem of admission in the two existing government higher secondary schools in Tuensang have led to a quandary. In addition, there are two private higher secondary schools in Tuensang town, however all these coupled together still cannot accommodate the number of students seeking admissions. 

The lack of available institutions has sparked concern among parents, educators, civil societies and student organizations. 

Sonla, a mother of one HSLC student in Tuensang town had this to say- “My son is an average student but he is hard working. He really worked hard and performed well in the recently declared HSLC exam. Since we are financially poor, we couldn’t afford to admit him in private schools. However, with government schools performing at par with the private schools, we thought of nothing better than to let him join government school.

“But even after he performed well, if the government schools are filled up only by brilliant students and there are no seats left, where you think my son will go. Theoretically he passed but practically he failed since he can't get admission,” she lamented. 

The Chang Wedoshi Setshang (Chang Students’ Conference) had earlier served a memorandum to the Principal Director, Directorate of School Education, Nagaland stating that the existing two government higher secondary schools cannot accommodate the qualified students due to lack of classrooms as well as shortage of teachers. 

It also stated that the total number of students who have filled the admission forms numbered 780 while the intake capacity for both the schools is 370 students only. It had therefore sought an upgrade of a government high school to a secondary level. 

However, the CWS said it is yet to receive any response to their memorandum to the Directorate of School Education, Nagaland seeking upgrade of Government High School, Hakushang into Government Higher Secondary School, Hakushang which was approved in District Planning and Development Board meeting on March 16, 2023.

In face of such a bleak setting, the CWS on Tuesday decided to halt the admission process for class 11 in the two government schools until a solution is arrived at. 

“Therefore, in light of the discrepancies, the conference halts the admissions process for Class 11 in those two schools from June 6, 2023 onwards until the department provide alternative arrangement to accommodate those students who filled up the admission form,” the CWS in a statement read.

‘It’s a dilemma passing out HSLC students faces every year’
CWS president, C Pongsu also revealed to The Morung Express that every year the people of Tuensang undergo the same dilemma of securing admission for class 11 students. Even last year i.e., 2022 there were around 180 students who couldn’t get admission in the higher secondary.

It was at this juncture that the CWS intervened and hurriedly constructed one class room at GHSS Thangjam from its fund and created one new class section and accommodated 100 students. The remaining 80 students were accommodated at GHSS Tuensang which increased the enrolment to 150 students in one classroom. 

Such situation of excess enrolment has led to overcrowded classrooms, stretched resources and compromise on quality education which has a detrimental impact on the learning experience and overall performance of the students. 

To tide over, with the initiative of school authorities, three private teachers were appointed at GHSS Thangjam for the academic session 2022-23 with financial assistance from parents. 

The CWS, school authorities and the community has highlighted all these activities and efforts to the education department and appraised them on the need of teaching staff and more GHSS in Tuensang. But there is no positive response and intervention from department so far, the president stated. 

“CWS have been trying its level best for past few years and has done every possible way for temporary solution. Having realized that temporary solution will not ease the problem faced by the people, the CWS take these steps for the welfare of students of Tuensang district,” he added.