Rongspon Meren
Students or youth, they say, are the foundation and future of any nation. And so should this be applicable for or Naga Nation as well. However, despite massive doles of assistance and a high teacher-student ratio ( on paper), the bedrock of our education system, remains in a complete mess, quagmire in controversy and crippled by a lack of vision, corruption, inefficiency, nepotism and poor politics. It gives me nightmares to even think about our future prospects 20-30 years hence. In this fact changing and highly competitive world, where countries and states over the world are approaching the issue with dynamism and foresight, we have not even thought of joining the race. We are mere by-standers, courtesy our great leaders, some elected and some trust upon us (self-styled) through various NGOs. We have perhaps already lost out on decades of progress and advancement due to our poor ethics, incapable leadership, high-headed attitude, misguided ideologies and misplaced priorities.
Although we have amongst the highest teacher-student ratio in the country, most of those teachers are simply teaching on paper, being on government payrolls to collect pay every month. There is no accountability. Many are also employing their proxies to teach in the schools on their behalf, who are not capable of doing this sensitive job. Many such people have political links, and some esteemed members of even the respected apex bodies like NSF also are using proxy teachers, while drawing the pay themselves.
When we move further up, there is a total lack of avenues for pursuing meaningful higher studies for the masses and there are no worthwhile centers of learning. The number of students who have to head to mainland India and even other states of the North East is increasing tremendously, each year. However, what is worse is a total lack of conducive academic atmosphere, and we are doing nothing to create one. We also have the fastest growing class educated unemployed youth, because we have not made our youth capable enough. Instead, we have been diverting their focus and energies on matters and issues, which has no relevance in today’s world.
There is an increasing loss of faith in the system even as far as employment is concerned. Jobs are apparently being doled out on criteria other than merit, as is evident from numerous scandals like fake certificate, NPSC, appointments of Hindi teachers etc, which I am sure, are just tip of the proverbial iceberg. Protests for action, far and few between, have also been purely motivated mad guided by selfish interests. Not only our leaders, but even our apex student bodies have failed to project and protect the interests of the youth, because they are too preoccupied with so called larger issues, and don’t have time for their actual mandated character of duties/responsibilities.
There is no dispute that time is running out. We not only need structural changes in the system and infrastructure, but also a drastic re-orientation and re-focusing of our approach, so that our future generations can be equipped with requisite knowledge and tools to complete and shine, rather than being weighed down by the burden of history. Will someone show the light and lead the way? Because those entrusted with this sensitive job seem to be failing consistently!
