The plights of government school in Kiphire

Though according to Census 2011, Kiphire district along with Longleng, Tuensang, Zunheboto and Mon, saw a huge increase in the levels of literacy ranging from 14.77% to 28.28%, the Government High School, Kiphire like many other government schools in Nagaland, is still confronting with number of plights.

Keen to learn more about this educational institute, a correspondent of The Morung Express paid a visit to the school. What he discovered and came across was nothing new to the students or the concern authorities.

Established in the year 1972, Government High School, Kiphire was “upgraded” to higher secondary level few years back but ironically only for “official correspondence.” In the last three-four years, they have received official correspondence and post addressed as GHSS. However, the school authorities are totally uninformed of the functioning of the higher secondary level despite the fact that the construction of the building for the upgraded section is almost complete.

The authorities shared concern that they are also in a fix as to whether the School will be able to conduct the number of 220 working days as earmarked in RTE for one academic session for secondary level, which the School is yet to initiate.

At the Government High School, Kiphire out of 600 plus students from class 7 to class 10 enrolled in 2012, only around 200 students turned up for admission for 2013 academic year.  Whereas their counterparts in other parts of the district are preparing for their first quarter and midterm, GHS Kiphire is still on the admission process as the School building was till recently occupied by paramilitary force who were deployed for the general assembly election duty.  The authorities are not sure if the School can resume regular classes in the month of March, as it is also an exam centre for the ongoing HSLC examination.

Interacting with the correspondence, the Asst. Head Master of the School, Robert N. Marathon who was recently stationed to the School said, “We are trying our best to improve the educational system but we need the support of the locals to move forward and work towards the dream to make the society better.” The Asst. Head Master also said, “Work culture should be inculcated in each one of us so that things will be in order. Many of us fail to realise that school is the temple of learning which is more important than church as this is the only platform to shape human in the right direction.”

He also added that the location of the public ground near the School also effects the schooling environment. “The only public ground in the Town is the place where all the functions are held which makes the students moves away their interest even if they are in the class. This ground is like a training place for vehicle learners and other unhealthy activities,” said Robert.

Not surprisingly, another senior teacher also shared concern that the government school in Kiphire, as elsewhere in the State, is almost entirely filled with children from poor families, who cannot afford to send them to a private school or children staying as maid or helper. The senior teacher provides old used notebooks to most of the students, as they cannot afford to buy notebooks for test copy. He also said, “With the introduction of RTE students feel they will pass even if they don’t come to class.”

It may be mentioned that for the last two years, GHS Kiphire has achieve a low record of 5.05% and 11.4% respectively in HSLC exam.