Trustees of the Mayangnokcha Award Trust along with student award recipients at St John Higher Secondary Residential School, Dimapur on October 30. (DIPR Photo)
Dimapur, October 30 (MExN): The 33rd presentation ceremony of the Mayangnokcha Awards for Academic Excellence (MAT) 2026 was held at St John Higher Secondary Residential School, Dimapur on October 30, with trustees stressing the need for education to evolve in an era of artificial intelligence, automation and robotics.
Speaking at the event, Dr Kilangwabang Pongener, Trustee of the Mayangnokcha Award Trust, said education should go beyond preparing students for examinations and equip them with the ability to adapt, think critically, communicate effectively, solve problems and engage in continuous learning, according to a DIPR report.
He advised students to embrace technological advancements while retaining human values, and encouraged them to use artificial intelligence as a tool without letting it replace independent thinking, creativity, empathy and ethical judgement.
Highlighting the vision behind the Trust, established in the early 1990s, he said a group of young people came together to promote academic excellence and strengthen Nagaland's education system, inspired by Mayangnokcha's contributions to educating the Nagas. The awards were instituted in 1994 to encourage positive competitiveness and recognise academic achievements, he added.
Citing Singapore as an example of how investment in education can drive national development, Pongener said the Trust's initiatives extended beyond awards to publishing biographies, academic programmes and a school assessment survey conducted between 2009 and 2011 with State Government support.
Speaking on the theme “Excellence with Integrity: Building Character in a Competitive World”, Trustee Akok Walling said academic excellence should not be measured merely by high marks but should serve as a foundation for greater achievements. He stressed that knowledge must be strengthened by integrity, and urged students to practice healthy emulation rather than unhealthy competition.
Seven awards were presented across categories, with the prestigious Mayangnokcha Award for Academic Excellence conferred on Benchumo Tungoe of Isaiah Ability Higher Secondary School, Wokha, who emerged as the overall topper. Tungoe also received the MAT-YRSD Award for the subject topper in Social Sciences.
The MAT-Rockdale Award for Ao (MIL) went to Imnokila Mollier of Queen Mary Higher Secondary School, Mokokchung; the MAT-TY Award for Science to Ikehakpeule of St. Paul Higher Secondary School, Dimapur; the MAT-EFOM Award for Mathematics to Thepfukuolie Mere of Mezhür Higher Secondary School, Kohima; the MAT-CEC Award for English to Keneitseinuo Celine Belho of St. Joseph's Higher Secondary School, Chümoukedima; and the MAT-Lenjeter Award for Agriculture to Neilhou Belho of Northfield, Khikha.
The programme featured an invocation by Pastor Roland Ngullie and a presentation titled “The Educationist” by the Youth Ministry of Indisen Baptist Arogo, Dimapur, besides a special performance by students of the host school. It concluded with a prayer of blessing by Pastor Toshi Imchen.
