Nagaland Chief Minister, Dr. Neiphiu Rio, on Thursday expressed profound pride in announcing that Nagaland has emerged as India’s third most literate state with a literacy rate of 95.7%, only behind Kerala and Mizoram, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24. This, he said, reflected the tireless efforts of teachers, educationists, and policy-makers who have contributed towards shaping the State’s education journey.
Dr. Rio was addressing the State-level Teachers’ Day celebration organised by the Department of School Education at NBCC Convention Hall, Kohima. Extending greetings to teachers across Nagaland on behalf of the State Government, he described teachers as “the backbone of the education system and the guiding light for our children.” He added that their “dedication, patience, and commitment have touched countless lives and inspired generations to dream big, work hard, and serve society with integrity.”
“Today is not only a day to honour teachers but also to reflect on the value of education and the crucial role you play in nation-building,” Rio said.
Tracing the State’s education journey, Rio recalled that when Nagaland attained statehood in 1963, its literacy rate stood at just 21.95%, one of the lowest in the country. Today, Nagaland not only has a high literacy rate but also one of the best pupil-teacher ratios (PTR) in India. The State has a PTR of 13:1, compared to the national average of 21:1. In government schools, the PTR is even lower at 7:1, which he described as “a strength we must leverage to create personalised learning environments, supported by modern teaching methodologies and skills.”
At present, Nagaland has 2,734 schools, 32,801 teachers and 4,10,389 school-going children, Rio informed.
Highlighting reforms in teacher development, Rio expressed satisfaction over the progress made by the School Leadership Academy of Nagaland (SLAN), established in 2023, which spearheads in-service teacher training and leadership programmes. It is now mandatory for school heads to undergo training, he said and encouraged all teachers and administrators to take these opportunities seriously.
added.
He further informed that the National Council for School Leadership, New Delhi has awarded SLAN the Certificate of Excellence for two consecutive years.
Taking forward the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Chief Minister announced that the State is introducing major reforms.
“The Nagaland State Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage Education (NSCFSE) is now ready, and shortly I will launch the Systems for Outstanding Achievements and Reformation (SOAR) Mission, a partnership programme aimed at bringing global standards into our curriculum, teaching, assessment, and school management,” he stated.
He further said that the government is in the process of institutionalising the Nagaland State School Standards Authority (NSSSA), mandated under NEP 2020, to act as a regulatory authority ensuring quality benchmarks in schools. Supporting this, the Nagaland School Quality Assessment and Assurance Framework (NSQAAF) is also being drafted, he added.
Dr Rio also announced the introduction of music education at the elementary level, in partnership with the Task Force for Music & Arts (TaFMA). “Given Nagaland’s exceptional musical talent, this initiative will provide students exposure to a globally benchmarked acoustic curriculum and open new avenues for creative growth,” he said.
Similarly, in line with National Education Policy 2020, he said the government is working to promote mother-tongue-based education. Dr. Rio informed that Government is collaborating with Nagaland University for the development and standardization of tribal languages, certification of language teachers, and production of literature.
The Chief Minister also mentioned that the Department of School Education is pioneering a convergence approach with the Department of Social Welfare to align foundational stage education more effectively.
Looking ahead, Rio emphasised that interventions in education must remain globally informed and aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4-Quality Education), NEP 2020, the National Initiative for Proficiency in Numeracy and Understanding (NIPUN) Bharat Mission, and UNESCO’s Education 2030 Agenda.
“Dear teachers, our children are our future, and you are the ones holding their hands and guiding them forward. I appeal to every teacher to nurture curiosity, critical thinking and compassion in our students so that they grow up to be responsible citizens, capable leaders and good human beings,” Rio said, calling for a renewed commitment to strengthening the teaching profession and ensuring that every child in Nagaland has access to quality education.
Yhome: ‘Three pillars of education reform’
In his address, Advisor for School Education & SCERT, Dr. Kekhrielhoulie Yhome, saluted the teachers’ commitment.
Highlighting the New Education Policy 2020, Yhome said, “It is our exciting time.” He mentioned that the state under the leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio would be upscaling redesigning a lot of their programmes.
He identified three pillars of school education reform—infrastructure, governance, and ecosystem building. While acknowledging that some school infrastructure required urgent attention, Yhome said the government was making strides in addressing these gaps. On governance, he stressed the need to improve teacher administration, management, and coordination between directorates and field officers. Finally, on ecosystem building, he said strengthening curriculum, data use, and teacher learning systems was essential.
He said the department is prepared with these three pillars.
“Our dream is that no child is left behind. Every child deserves the best of education, whether they are in urban, semi-urban or the most far-flung rural areas of Nagaland,” Yhome said.
The programme began with an invocation by Fr. Jacob Charalel, Secretary of CEDOK and Vice President of ANPSA. Commissioner & Secretary for School Education and SCERT, Kevileno Angami, delivered the welcome address.
During the celebration, the “Mission SOAR, Nagaland” was officially launched, along with the introduction of music in the elementary section with Yamaha Inc. Recognition of Excellence in School Safety – SSB Phase 2 was also conferred during the event.
