Dimapur: Nagaland‘s lone Lok Sabha MP, S. Supongmeren Jamir, on Tuesday questioned the Education Department over the reasons behind the better academic performance of private schools compared to government institutions.
Emphasising the importance of foundational learning, Jamir urged the department to give equal attention to primary and elementary education.
He raised the issue during a meeting of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) for Zunheboto district, held at the Deputy Commissioner’s conference hall.
Jamir observed that private schools were delivering better academic results despite having relatively limited infrastructure, fewer staff members and lower salaries. In contrast, government schools, which generally have better facilities and offer higher salaries, continued to face challenges in academic performance.
Questioning the reasons for this disparity, he said the problem was not limited to Zunheboto but was prevalent across Nagaland.
The Education Department acknowledged the gap and attributed it to factors including a shortage of subject teachers and other operational challenges affecting government schools.
The meeting reviewed the progress of developmental activities and assessed the implementation of various government schemes in Zunheboto district.
Jamir urged all departments to prioritise the district’s developmental requirements and ensure the effective execution of government programmes.
He placed particular emphasis on improving the quality of education in government schools. His remarks followed a PowerPoint presentation by the District Education Officer on the activities and functioning of schools across the district.
The meeting also discussed the timely distribution of free textbooks and school uniforms.
Officials pointed out that delays in supplying textbooks were creating difficulties for students. They stressed the need to ensure that learning materials reached schools before the start of each academic session.
Concerns were also raised over the distribution of ready-made school uniforms, which often did not fit students properly.
The issue of teacher rationalisation also came up for discussion. Participants suggested consulting the concerned Block Education Officers to ensure a more balanced and effective deployment of teachers across schools.