One cannot deny the fact that education is the catalyt which brings social reformation in any society; it begins in the cradle and ends in the grave. Without education of any kind human society will never exist and would not dare to face the challenges of today’s world. There were days when helping hand in agricultural works was preferred over sending children to schools for education.
With the paradigm shift almost each household sent their children to schools to acquire knowledgeable education for the development of the whole man.
Knowing the fact that education is more than the three Rs – reading, ’riting and ’rithmatic, children are sent to the best schools and institutions so that they become the ‘fittest’ for ‘survival’ in any situation they are exposed.
Every year thousands of students pass out HSLC, HSSLC, degree and university level exam. At this rate, the educated unemployment is also rising rapidly making the ‘quality’ survive and ‘quantity’ vanish by itself.
Over the years, Government institutions are faring better and better in the state. The recent HSLC result shows that Government institution in Kohima has a credit of pass percent on an average of ±95%, which is very encouraging. On the other hand their counterparts in other districts proved otherwise. It is a shame for the citizens of Kiphire district that of the four Government High school appeared HSLC 2001 the average pass percentage of Govt. High Schools in the district is 07.5%. Hats off to those noble souls who save the skin of the institutions in the district. Now, who is to blame? Each has his own share of responsibility for the poor performance of the students.
Not to talk of Govt. High School Seyouchung, Anatongre and Pungro, the Govt. High School at Kiphire HQ has no proper toilet. In sufficient class-rooms, leaking roofs, broken fencing walls and windows glass panes not seen for decades making ‘The temple of Learning’ no better than a ‘Fish market’.
On an average, a student spends more that 50% of his/her time in class rooms/school, but if its infrastructure is not in proper shape, one can not expect the students to attend classes regularly. Except, maybe, those who have an iron will.
Weather has its equal share to blame for the poor performance of GHS Kiphire. When it is sunny the pungent smell of the toilet forces the students to stay away from class, when it is rainy/windy the leakages on the roof make the students go home early though they have a desire to learn. Even those dedicated teachers who have a big heart for these noble souls have no say for they are all at the ‘mercy of the weather’.
In the name of this temple of learning – GHS Kiphire – piles of books must have been submitted to the higher authorities giving progress report for developmental activities taken up in the institution. But sadly, except on paper, she is yet to receive even a proper toilet for girls in the institution.
No doubt, most of the teachers are giving their best, shouldering extra burden, and putting themselves in the shoes of the students, trying to help them acquire genuine quality education in every possible way. On the other hand, some teachers are no better than ‘Haley’s comet’. Maybe because they are influential or the concerned authorities pretend not to know for fear of misunderstanding. In this noble profession, it is a crime to spoil the life of hundreds of blooming younger generation by neglecting one’s duty for selfish gain. Shameful isn’t it?
It may only be in GHS Kiphire where a Hindi teacher is assigned to teach Mathematics and Social Science due to shortage of teachers. Students have become living specimens. Anyway ‘Big thanks’ to the Hindi teacher who dared to take up this challenge imparting the best education he can.
For all these reason, students of GHS Kiphire are seen on the street right from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. I wonder how they manage to catch up with the classes. In this kind of environment, 10% pass percent of HSLC ’07 at GHS Kiphire is satisfactory. Student organizations exist to address the plight faced by the student community, but most student organizations are busy with other issues compromising their basic aims, making the student community undergo untold sufferings.
The need to revamp GHS in Kiphire district is the need of the hour – proper care and attention to address these issues faced by the student community is needed from the concerned authority to save its younger generation from perishing, lest posterity blame us.
Students and faculties will be encouraged if the people representatives of the district pay a visit at least once in 5 years and address the human problem faced by the students rather than to talk big in their respective chairs for reformation.
Whatever, it’s of no use crying over spilt milk, like their counterparts elsewhere in the state. I fervently hope that the GHS in Kiphire district will fare better and bring laurels to her citizens in the years ahead.
L Yangpthonger
West Home, Kiphire town
