Nagaland Advisor calls for education overhaul to instill ‘Naga Pride’

Dimapur, November 1 (MExN): Nagaland’s School Education & SCERT Advisor, Dr Kekhrielhoulie Yhome, today called for a fundamental rebuilding of the state’s education system to instill “Naga pride” and address a critical “perception problem” towards government schools.

Despite Nagaland being the ‘third most literate state’ in India and the sector undergoing a major transformation backed by an investment of approximately Rs 9,400 crores, Dr Yhome highlighted a lack of public esteem for government institutions as a critical issue.

“A perception problem exists towards our government school students, teachers, and graduates. This needs to change,” he said while delivering the keynote address at the ‘Dr PS Lorin Education Conclave 2025: Enhancing Academic Capabilities for a Changing World’ as part of the annual Dr P S Lorin Lecture Series on November 1.

The Advisor argued that the core of the issue lies in the system’s design. “Since our system design is wrong, we need to rebuild Naga pride with a sense of responsibility in our education sector,” he asserted.

A key part of this rebuilding, according to Dr Yhome, is embracing Nagaland’s unique culture. He recalled that his own school education was dominated by topics pertaining to other states, leaving local identity sidelined. 

He emphasised the importance of the “communitarian spirit” and the “mosaic of culture” that defines the Naga people. Calling the Northeast a region “endowed with creativity,” Dr Yhome concluded that the education system must work to enhance and promote this innate talent, weaving it into the very fabric of learning in Nagaland.

The conclave, as part of the annual Dr P S Lorin Lecture Series, was hosted by Tetso College, Sovima, in collaboration with the state Department of School Education.

In his welcome note, Kvulo Lorin, Chairman of Tetso College, stressed the importance of collaboration among educators. He also announced that the college is offering full scholarships with a monthly stipend to two government school Class 12 graduates.

Students of Quest Fulfill School, Dimapur displayed a cultural performance - Hao, a traditional dance of Sangtam Naga tribe.

Panels address academic trends, teaching reforms
The Dr PS Lorin Education Conclave 2025 featured panel discussions that analysed a prevailing preference for humanities over vocational courses among Naga students and strategies for educational innovation.

The first panel, titled “Exploring the Shift in Academic Interests of Naga Students: Opportunities & Challenges,” centered on the observed preference among Naga students for traditional humanities courses over emerging, vocationally-oriented fields like Management, Computer Sciences, and Mass Communication among others.

The discussion was moderated by Dr Wapangsenla Imchen, Associate Professor, Management, Tetso College. The panellist were Nellayappan B (OSD to Chief Minister, Nagaland, & Deputy Director, Department of School Education, Government of Nagaland, Dr. Sedevi Angami (Director, Christian Institute of Health Sciences & Research, Dimapur), and Dr Mary N. Odyuo (Associate Professor, Agricultural Extension Education, School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland University), with Dr Hewasa L Khing (Principal, Tetso College) serving as the discussant. 

A talk on ‘Purposeful Pedagogical Innovation’ focusing on the theme “Innovation Begins with Clarity: Instructional Practice Grounded in Learning Outcomes” was also held. The resource person was Initoli Vinito Chishi (Education Consultant, Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment Specialist, Nagaland Education Project - The Lighthouse (NECTAR), Department of School Education). 

he core message emphasised that true innovation in teaching is not merely about using new tools, but must start with a clear definition of desired learning outcomes. The discussion centered on aligning instructional methods and classroom practices directly with these specific goals to ensure effective and meaningful learning for students.

The second panel, “Innovating Under Pressure: Lessons from Government and Private School Leaders,” brought together principals to discuss practical strategies for overcoming challenges. Moderated by Asalie Peseyie, the session focused on adaptive leadership and collaborative problem-solving to sustain educational quality.

Meanwhile, parallel workshops on personality development and career choices were held for school students. Loyola Higher Secondary School, Jakhama, emerged as the winning team in a group discussion titled 'Ready for a Career: How Can Schools Help?'.