Nagaland is exploring a long-term partnership with Indian and German philanthropic organisations to improve learning outcomes in government schools and ensure more effective utilisation of education funds, Advisor for School Education Kekhrielhoulie Yhome said.The planned project comes after talks between the state government and a team headed by Martin Kasper, president of the Childaid Network Foundation in Germany, and Nikunj Jhaveri, president of the Rotary Club of the Queen’s Necklace, Mumbai, which held on October 5, Yhome told reporters.
Five-year roadmap to improve teaching standards
Kasper said the proposed collaboration could run for at least five years, with a roadmap to be developed to enhance teaching quality and student performance.The planned interventions would cover teacher training, digital infrastructure, early childhood education, vocational skills, and project-based learning, while strengthening existing government systems, Yhome said.
Focus on learning outcomes and fund utilisation
Yhome said, Nagaland spends around 8.3 to 8.7 per cent of its budget on education but acknowledged that public resources could be utilised more effectively.The state government was examining gaps in the education system and would assess potential interventions over the coming months, he added.Highlighting the challenges, Kasper said fewer than half of the students in Nagaland’s government school system passed the Class 10 examinations. He stressed the need to improve learning outcomes despite progress in school infrastructure and enrolment.Childaid Network spends around 2 million to 3 million euros annually on education and operates across approximately 1,500 project locations in the Northeast, Kasper said.
Wider support beyond financial assistance
The initiative would focus on government schools, with assistance extending beyond funding to knowledge-sharing, networking and monitoring, Jhaveri said.He added that the partnership would bring together Rotary, Childaid Network and local organisations, including Mantra for Change, ShikshaLokam and Elevate.
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The collaboration would also seek to connect Nagaland with corporate-sector networks and investment opportunities, Jhaveri said.
Corporate investment and local employment
Kasper said the long-term vision was to encourage companies to establish centres in Kohima and Dimapur, generating local employment and enabling young people from Nagaland to work in their home state instead of migrating elsewhere.According to news agency PTI, he clarified that Childaid Network was a private non-governmental organisation, although the German government also contributed funding to its programmes.The proposed initiative would complement existing government efforts rather than create parallel systems, he added.
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