The 87th General Conference of the Sungratsu Students’ Union commenced at Senden Salang, Sungratsu village in Mokokchung District on the evening of 27th December 2023, featuring the theme “Ayimjem Shisashir,” roughly translated as “Smart Students.”

The inaugural session saw Rev Sentisashi Aier, Senior Pastor of Kohima Ao Baptist Church (KABA), as the theme speaker. Rev Aier emphasized a paradigm shift in the education system, moving away from the memorization-driven approach of the past to an era characterized by experimental, interactive, integrated, and inquiry-driven teaching.

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Highlighting the importance of being smart in a world driven by intelligent individuals and advanced systems, Rev Aier urged students to continuously strive for increased intelligence. He stressed that education should not only make students intelligent but also equip them with ample resources. He emphasized that bookish knowledge alone is insufficient and advocated for the integration of skill development and talent polishing into the educational process.

A significant aspect of Rev Aier’s address focused on the practicality of education. He asserted that education should facilitate livelihood, and if students cannot earn after completing their education, there is a flaw in the system. Moreover, he underscored the significance of character-building alongside academic pursuits, stating that education without character does not contribute to the development of smart students.

As per the conference theme, Rev Aier encouraged students to go beyond being passive spectators and become active participants and initiators in their lives.

The three-day conference of the Sungratsu Students’ Union is being attended by over 350 students from various districts of Nagaland with diverse range of activities with special focus on cultural events, handicraft exhibitions, cultural dances, and discussions addressing social and student-related issues.