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sunDAY • februArY 21 • 2016
DIMAPUR • Vol. XI • Issue 49 • 12 PAGes • 5
T H e
ESTD. 2005
P o W e R
o F
T R u T H
Politics is perhaps the only profession for which no preparation is thought necessary — Robert Louis Stevenson India, Nepal try to mend fences; Nine agreements signed PAGE 08
reflections
By Sandemo Ngullie
McCullum smashes fastest test century to rescue NZ
Free health camp in Longwa Village held PAGE 02
PAGe 12
rMsA in nagaland: Acute shortage of teachers affects school education Morung Express News Kohima | February 20
Seeet Lord! Him too?? Oh. Why is everybody claiming to be graduate?
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PWC of JLF meets TMC KolKata, February 20 (mexN): The Parliamentary Working Committee of the Joint Legislators’ Forum on Naga Political Issue today met senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and former Union Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi on Saturday in Kolkata on the ongoing Naga political dialogue and other issues pertaining to the State. According to a press note from the media cell of the Nagaland State Chief Minister’s Office, Trivedi assured the PWC delegation their support to a “peaceful and honourable resolution” of the Naga political problem “as and when it comes up to the Parliament for final settlement.” He also “volunteered” to lobby with other like-minded political parties in the country to “support the Naga cause.” Trinamool Congress has 12 MPs in the Rajya Sabha. Nagaland State Chief Minister TR Zeliang expressed “strong conviction” that the “most feasible” road and rail connectivity with Southeast Asian countries would be through Nagaland. The PWC delegation is scheduled to return to Nagaland on Sunday.
Court issues arrest warrant for Musharraf
C M Y K
islamabaD, February 20 (iaNs): A court in Pakistan on Saturday issued a non-bailable warrant for the arrest of former President Pervez Musharraf in a case of the murder of a cleric, lawyers said. Abdul Rashid Ghazi was among 90 students who were killed in a military raid on Islamabad’s Red Mosque in 2007. At least 11 security men were also killed in the clashes. The operation was launched to nab armed militants holed up inside the mosque and a nearby girls’ seminary. Additional Sessions Judge in Islamabad, Pervez Qadir, dismissed an application of Pervez Musharraf for exemption from personal appearance in the court on medical grounds, and ordered his arrest and production in the court on March 16.
After four years, the Government High School Diki, Dihoma under Kohima District has received news that six teachers along with a Headmaster will be arriving soon for their upgraded school. For almost four years, GHS Diki held its classes for the Class 9 students in their School Hall while the computer room was a makeshift room for the Class 10 students. Class 10 was discontinued in 2015 because even after its up-gradation by the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) in 2011, not a single teacher was deployed neither were the constructions begun for the classrooms until late last year. The school is still under construction. “We had to close down Class 10 because there was acute shortage of teachers,” says Thepfuneilhou Yashü, the former Head Teacher of the Government Middle School while mentioning that the school received directions from the RMSA to start classes right after the upgradation.Theteachersinthe Middle school had to manage and multi-task classes to teach Class 9 and 10. In Nagaland, after the introduction of RMSA, 168 schools were “upgraded” under the flagship program starting from 2009 till 2014. From 2009-2010, 35 schools were upgraded under the RMSA scheme, in 2010-2011, 67 schools were upgraded while in
This picture, clicked on February 16, 2016, is of the approach road to a supposedly “upgraded” RMSA school at Mezoma in Kohima district. The school was upgraded in 2012 to facilitate access to education for children of the village. (Morung Photo)
This is the site for the RMSA high school whose “upgradation” was done on paper and even a foundation stone laid but the buck stopped there. RMSA schools all over Nagaland are in similar tatters. (Morung Photo)
2011-2012, 45 schools were upgraded and finally 21 schools in 2013-2014, informed Nagaland State’s RMSA Mission Director Thejao Vihienuo. However, the appealing figures are far removed from the pitiable state of many upgraded schools which struggled with no teachers deployed for the upgraded classes or constructions for additional rooms. It is only this year that the RMSA has started deploying teachers along with Headmasters. On being asked if the school appealed to RMSA on their problems, Yashü stated that verbal appeals were made. Reasons given for the non-deployment and delayed constructions were financial crisis in the Government and the Centre’s direction of selecting
ground, boundary walls, furniture etc. The Government High School, Mezoma was set up in 2012 after much discussions and debate in the village which finally decided to upgrade under the RMSA scheme so that the poorer students can benefit from the government school. The High School was officially inaugurated with a foundation stone by the Mission Director of RMSA on February 7, 2012. But no teachers were deployed thus compelling the Village Education Council to hire two private tutors for two years paying them Rs. 6000 each per month, informed K. Kuotsu, Chairman VEC of Mezoma village. The salaries of the two teachers were derived from the VDB’s grant-inaid fund. To add humour
teachers with a minimum requirement of 45 percentage in their graduation, which Yashü asserts is a difficult percentage to achieve in backward areas. In the case of Phokhungri Government High School, Phokhungri under Phek district, a Carpenter Instructor (who is a graduate) was compelled to teach English for Class 9 and 10 because no teachers were deployed. The School, established in 1971 and upgraded and inaugurated on October 18, 2011, has been functioning with only 13 teachers (only 3 graduate teachers) and further had to employ a private tutor for teaching Maths and Science, informed an official source. At present the school has a total enrolment of 128 students. No constructions for
the upgraded schools were made, however the school have been informed that constructions will start this year, informs the source. Despite its limitations, the school thrived and this year, out of its eight students in class 10, five of them are appearing for their matriculation exams. The school too will be receiving five teachers under the RMSA and Headmaster for the upgraded classes this year. In the RMSA framework guidelines, funds for constructions are sanctioned for provision of classrooms (at least two sections each for a class), science laboratory, lab equipments, office room, headmaster/principal room, library, girls activity room, computer room, arts and craft culture, toilet and drinking water facilities, development of play-
to the misery of the School, the Drawing Teacher in the middle school was compelled to teach the Class 9 students Science subject due to the teacher shortage since the teacher came from a B.Sc background. The land for the upgraded school was also purchased in the village but no constructions have started except for some levelling and constructing the road towards the school. The sand that has been kept for almost two years is also of poor quality. There has been no response from the contractor in charge of the construction despite appeals, informs the VEC Chairman. The upgraded classes are likely to be discontinued unless teachers are deployed; meanwhile most of the Class 9 and 10 students have to migrate to Zubza to pursue
their secondary studies. The Government High School at Sechü-Zubza does not have hostel facilities. Thus, students from other villages including Mezoma have to rent houses alone to pursue their studies. One of the main visions of RMSA is to make available, accessible and affordable quality education in secondary schools within a radius of 5 km of any habitation. The vision also ensured to achieve universal access to secondary education (age 14 to 18) by 2017. The distance from Mezoma to Sechü Zubza is 19.5 km, thus the accessibility of secondary school within a radius of 5 km, is a distant dream for the lofty vision of RMSA. “Instead of progressing, our schools are regressing,” states a frustrated teacher at Mezoma.
two arrested with ammo near shamator Students and alumni in Nagaland to
At this stage no credible evidence of links to February 6 killing: Police
Police, Tuensang, while confirming the arrests, stated that the duo was arrested 18-20Km from Shamator town on the night of February 18. The arrests took place at NH 202 while NAP (IR) personnel were on a security patrol, the SP added. The duo, identified as Thongthong and Amongba, was found in the possession of 49 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition. A third individual escaped, the SP said. With the security situation at Shamator town vulnerable, they were taken to Tuensang district headquarters, where they are in custody. According to the SP, preliminary interrogation has not revealed anything. “They were booked under the relevant sections of the Arms
Act and NSR,” while further investigation is on, the SP said.
hold JNU solidarity walk on Feb 22
YTC says no bail to the duo DimaPur, February 20
(mexN): Alumni of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New DelDimapur | February 20 hi (JNU), along with students and alumni from all central uniTwo persons were arrested with versities, in Nagaland State have “restricted ammunition” near decided to come out in solidarLaskiur village, Tuensang on ity with their alma mater and its February 18. The arrest, which students. took place in the backdrop of In view of the events unfoldheightened apprehension and ing out of the incident that hapsituational uncertainly prevailpened at JNU recently, the JNU ing at Shamator and Kiphire, has Alumni Nagaland along with raised speculations. friends and well wishers have With speculation rife, the Tuorganised a solidarity walk and ensang police maintained that in a sit-in programme on Monthe absence of any credible eviday, February 22 from 3:00pm dence, the arrests, at this stage, to 4:00pm, starting from the DC cannot be linked to the February Court junction. People con6 killing. The Superintendent of cerned by the current atmosphere in the country are welcome to join the programme. A press note from the alumni today stated that the programme will highlight the curtailment of freedom of speech, particularly of educational institutions across the country, growing intolerance in India, attack on the democratic and secular ethos of the Constitution and the attack on the media. In a statement released to the press earlier, concerned students and alumni of JNU in Nagaland State said that since the arrest of the JNU Students’ Union President, Kanhaiya Kumar, the University has been branded as a “space of anti-nationals, terrorists and Maoists and its normal functioning has been suspended.” “As a result of the above incident, JNU community has faced accusations and threat to our physical safety within and A woman grills fresh corn cobs over the charcoal during the 30th Statehood Day celebration at Itanagar on Saturday. Arunachal Pradesh is one of the most linguistically rich and diverse regions in Asia with at least beyond the campus,” noted the Nagaland alumni and students 30 languages. Arunachal is home to 20 major tribes and a number of sub tribes. Photo by Imti Longchar Morung Express News
Meanwhile, the Yimchungrü Tribal Council (YTC) has alleged the arrested duo of having links to the February 6 killing. The YTC, in a press release, demanded that the duo should not be bailed till the investigation into the killing is complete. It further alleged the duo of being members of a militia group – ‘Limitsong’, which is reportedly active in Tuensang district. The third absconding individual, who the YTC alleged of being a member of a Naga Political Group, should also be arrested immediately, it demanded. The police maintained the YTC allegation cannot be established.
BJP ‘systematically destroying’ democratic institutions: nPcc Kohima, February 20 (mexN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has stated that the JNU issue is a “premeditated program” of the RSS and BJP to shut down the institution. “They are systematically destroying the democratic institutions,” stated President of NPCC, K Therie in a press release, listing the attack by the RSS on educational institutions such as FTII, TERI and students like Rohit Vemula. He also alleged that they BJP’s ministers are advocating the Gita to be declared as the ‘National Holy Book.’ “The growing of BJP is dangerous to the nation and especially to the minority communities like us,” the NPCC President reiterated. “The RSS Chief is saying that the Tri-colour National Flag is not required and should be replaced by saffron colour. Should we support such a move? Should we allow to happen or stand together to stop from happening?” he wondered while condemning the attitude of the BJP Government for “systematically destroying the democratic institutions.” of the prestigious University. JNU, they asserted, “epitomizes” unity in diversity. “It is a space of inclusiveness where different ideas are discussed and debated and often questions received knowledge and ideas that may be uncomfortable.” While every individual, group or party has the fundamental right to freedom of expression, the alumni questioned the wisdom of the members of the BJP, Nagaland unit, in holding a protest rally (and the proposed upcoming campaign) to tarnish JNU and its intellectual, progressive and democratic ethos that have been built over the decades. “We also question the wisdom of office bearers of the Nagaland unit, when the State at the Centre endorses the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, curb the right to food habits, religious freedom, cuts on education
funds, aims to establish a homogeneous idea of nation based on Hindutva ideology,” affirmed the concerned citizens. They further maintained that they do not endorse the aforementioned slogans and condemned the “propaganda of slander to defame JNU, the use of physical force, and the curbs on freedom of expression, the disregard for rule of law within and beyond the JNU campus.” The citizens, who resolved to stand by affirmative policies for the upliftment of the weak and poor sections of society, minority rights, justice, democracy and freedom of expression under the provisions of the Constitution, appealed to the local media to ascertain facts before publication to avoid undue defamation of the institution and aggravating the situation, also holding it true for coverage and reporting on other issues.