Long has been the debate of injustice and step motherly treatment towards the people of Eastern Nagaland with the region grappling with disadvantages and struggles in various aspects especially in the education sector.
With many aspiring students migrating to urban areas for better opportunities and quality education, the Tuensang Village Students’ Union (TVSU) has taken various commendable initiatives toward acknowledging these shortcomings and transforming it into an inspiring work of force. The Union’s commendable initiative include Sochum, Free tuition project and Thaibüng Center which has witnessed improvement among students in the region.
SOCHUM
‘Sochum’ which basically means ‘A Learning Center’ was established in October, 2017 by Tuensang Village Students’ Union which has provided guidance to the student community from Tuensang Village. This Learning Center focuses on better future of High School and Higher secondary out going students (Regular & Repeater). “The need for setting up a Learning Centre was necessitated because the educational system in the village environment lacked access to adequate educational facilities and resources to provide quality education to its students,” says I Tochi Imlong, President TVSU.
Students from economically deprived families mostly avail their seats at Sochum and the main objective of establishing a study Center is to provide equitable access to quality education.
Sochum runs from the month of October to March specifically for High school and Higher Secondary underprivileged examiners, and functions fully under the sponsorship made by the TVSU. The learning center also provides safe residential environment to comfortable dormitories equipped with basic amenities such as beds, study desks, storage space, and communal areas for recreation and specialization. TVSU also ensures access to nutritious meals and snacks throughout the program. While acknowledging the hard work of TVSU, President Tochi also added that the smooth functioning of “Sochum” is achieved because of the initiative support received from various local community organizations, NGOs, and village stakeholders in need of time.
‘Sochum’ offers free-of-cost individual tutoring sessions and small group tuition from professional volunteer Teachers in core subjects such as Mathematics, Science, English, social studies, etc. The teachers offer guidance and assistance with homework, assignments, etc. Under this, the students are confined to stay at the ‘Sochum’ premises until the end of their final examination.
TVSU President highlighted that, over the past years, the students coming out from Sochum has yielded 60 to 80 percent passing percentage sparking a hope to see a better percentage in the coming years.
Khoni, a student of 10th standard from St. John’s Hr Secondary School Tuensang, expressing his gratitude towards TVSU, said that through the Sochum Learning Center he has learned to manage his time and also most importantly his study hour compared to what he learned at home.
Naongtola, also a student of 10th Standard from St John’s Hr Secondary School, highlighted that availing the opportunity at Sochum has garnered a sense of motivation. Group study has also boosted her self esteem to tackle problem solving skills. Naongtola also thanks TVSU for giving the student community a chance to have a better future
THAIBÜNG STUDY CENTER PROJECT
The Thaibüng Study Center Project promotes healthy learning and a conducive environment for those who struggle financially and are unable to enlist in any coaching centre outside the district or state.
Tuensang Village Students’ Union and Tuensang Village Gazetted Officers’ Club on April 27, 2024 collaborated on the project that sparked the hopes and dreams of many aspirants under Tuensang Village .
Thaibüng, a study centre basically aims at providing academic support to underprivileged graduates and postgraduates. In order to support graduates and postgraduate students in the village and to help them pursue Civil Service careers.
TVSU had earlier surveyed the plight of its educational graph in their village which indicated a high need for additional support, the TVSU President underscored.
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Under Thaibüng study Center, aspirants are made to avail free lodging, and Wi-fi facilities etc. TVSU and TVGOC came into collaboration in supervising and mentoring the aspirants by visiting tutors available daily from 5:30. Pm to 10:30 pm at the office premises.
Tochi emphasized that the Study Centre aims to enhance the overall well-being and progress of the community. The Study Centre aims to foster long-term positive change in aspirants’ careers. The Centre is designed not only to provide immediate support to aspirants but to create a long Impact on their lives and to empower future generations so that society would have a handful of good leaders to carry on knowledgeable and fruitful generations.
President Tochi further termed that , This initiative of TVSU and TVGOC has left a positive impact on families. The parents now realize their role in the children’s education. This initiative represents a significant opportunity for both the aspirants and parents to have a better outlook on educational matters. Thus, the Proposed Study Centre ‘ Thaibüng ‘ offers valuable educational support to underprivileged graduates and postgraduates helping bridge the gap in achieving dreams.
FREE TUITION PROJECT
Program specially organized for remedial students in Government schools aiming to support them in gaining a fair learning environment without any fear of financial instability.
The “Free Tuition Project” is the most recent project by TVSU initiated in April, 2023 which aims to address core issues of academic failure and student dropouts among underprivileged communities within the village.
TVSU has worked tremendously to support academic excellence within the underprivileged sections of students having the risk of falling out or leaving school. Tochi informs that the Union has so far successfully sponsored Ten(10) qualified teachers to provide tuition.
The objective of “Free Tuition Project “ is to foster study habits and simultaneously encourages parental/guardian involvement in their children’s education.
“Through this act the T.V.S.U targets to develop disciplined study habits and a positive attitude towards learning. It has helped in addressing the gaps in teaching quality and highlighted a need for the required of further professional development for some teachers as well,” expresses Tochi.
Free Tuition Project has helped in preventing dropouts and fostered good study habits among the students. It has also brought a positive increase in parental support. Students who has been participating in the tuition program have demonstrated better grades and a deeper knowledge of their subjects.
T.V.S.U, without having any prior advertisement or solicitation, successfully generated /garnered substantial support from many unexpected sources, with multiple wellwishers and individuals willing to donate to the “Free Tuition” drive has lightened up the works of the Union.
