While education is defined as the process of facilitating learning and development, schools in particular play a major role, acting as the powerhouse of knowledge for students from all sections of society.
Kiphire district, in particular, has 26 high schools and 4 higher secondary schools, according to the DEO (District Education Office) records.
While the primary and upper primary sections mostly have an understandable student-teacher ratio, the situation is alarming for high school and higher secondary students. According to CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education), the teacher-student ratio should be 1:30 for primary and 1:35 for secondary levels, while NBSE (Nagaland Board of School Education) prescribes a 1:40 ratio—meaning there should be 1 teacher for every 40 students.
However, many schools in Nagaland seem to be failing to abide by the NBSE-set rules and are allowing excess enrolment for reasons best known to them, eventually putting students’ education at risk.
In Kiphire district, the situation in most private schools is far beyond the NBSE-set teacher-student ratio of 1:40. While some schools have two sections each for high school and higher secondary levels, these sections have 80 and 81 students respectively—more than double the NBSE-prescribed number, and in direct violation of NBSE regulations. This excessive enrolment overshadows and deprives students—many of whom come from lower-income families and pay high school fees—of their right to quality education.
While the efforts of school authorities to improve education in all aspects are appreciated, this basic requirement of providing rightful and proper space to students is often neglected.
In conversation with students from multiple schools, who preferred to remain anonymous, one male student revealed, “It’s very challenging to concentrate on our subject teachers while they take classes since most of our mates are doing mischievous acts, which go unnoticed by our teachers who are far away, lecturing on the subject matter.”
Another female student commented, “My friends and I try to occupy the front rows in the classroom because we are unable to concentrate on our teachers’ lessons from the back. We lose interest and are not able to understand the topics being taught.”
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Challenges and obligations of teachers
The problem of excess student enrolment is not only impacting students but also creating major challenges for teachers, who struggle to manage large numbers and ensure students focus and concentrate.
A subject teacher shared his thoughts on the matter: “I personally know many of my colleagues who are facing the same problem in taking quality classes with our students. We have only limited time—45 minutes per subject. The pressure to cover our syllabus for weekly tests, monthly tests, and final exams places a huge burden on our shoulders. Sadly, we sometimes regret not being able to give our best. Since we are also human, it becomes a huge challenge to maintain a quiet and disciplined class due to the excess number of students.”
Another teacher stated, “I personally foresee the problem and have even shared it with our school authorities. However, we have not seen any positive steps being taken. We are helpless unless parents, student bodies, or NGOs intervene, as we are just employees at the end of the day and have limited authority to make decisions.”
Challenges for school authorities
Speaking to school authorities, it was learned that many parents insist on enrolling their children in certain schools for reasons best known to them, pressuring school authorities even after being informed that enrolment is already full in specific classes.
One school proprietor mentioned, “We try our best to make the parents understand about the already filled enrolment, but they keep insisting in different ways and means. We can’t help but overstretch the limits for their children, even if we don’t want to.”
Reliable solutions and steps
The issue can be addressed through the implementation of several reliable measures. Firstly, if the number of students exceeds the NBSE-prescribed ratio, schools can create additional sections (A/B/C/D, etc.) for such classes while ensuring adequate subject teachers are assigned to each section.
Secondly, schools must strictly adhere to the NBSE-stipulated student-teacher ratio and regularly educate parents on this matter during PTMs (Parent-Teacher Meetings), enabling them to understand the risks of over-enrolment and the importance of providing quality education.
Thirdly, the NBSE, along with district school boards, can set ethical and practical guidelines applicable to all affiliated schools to coordinate and resolve such issues, particularly before board and final exams for high school and higher secondary students.
An equal distribution of student numbers—minimum or maximum—should be ensured across all institutions during admission and enrolment to prevent overcrowding in some schools while others remain under-enrolled.
Fourthly, student organisations and civil societies at the district and state levels can play a vital role as pressure groups, advocating for quality education and ensuring that the students—our future leaders—receive fair opportunities.
Lastly, strict monitoring of student-teacher ratios should be conducted through regular NBSE inspections in all private and government schools. This should include fines and action, or explanation calls for schools found to be exploiting the ignorance and innocence of students and parents.
By implementing these solutions, schools in Nagaland—and Kiphire district in particular—can ensure that students receive quality education and that teachers are empowered to provide individual attention and effectively engage with their classes.
