Kohima: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Friday said the state has emerged as India’s third most literate state at 95.7%, only behind Kerala and Mizoram.
Addressing the state-level Teachers’ Day celebrations at NBCC convention hall in Kohima, Rio said this achievement reflected the tireless efforts of our teachers, educationists, and policy makers.
CM Rio said, “When Nagaland attained statehood in 1963, the literacy rate was just 21.95 per cent, among the lowest in the country, but today, Nagaland has emerged as India’s third most literate state at 95.7 per cent.”
He also highlighted that Nagaland has 2,734 schools, 32,801 teachers and 4,10,389 school-going children.
Rio noted the progress made by the School Leadership Academy of Nagaland (SLAN), established in 2023, which is spearheading in-service teacher training and leadership development.
Greeting the teachers of the state on the occasion, Rio said, “Their dedication, patience, and commitment have touched countless lives and inspired generations to dream big, work hard, and serve society with integrity.”
He added that Nagaland is implementing major reforms in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Rio also stated that the Nagaland State Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage Education is now ready, and the state will soon launch the Systems for Outstanding Achievements and Reformation (SOAR) Mission, a collaborative program designed to introduce global standards into the curriculum, teaching, assessment, and school management.
The state is also in the process of institutionalising the Nagaland State School Standards Authority (NSSSA), mandated under the National Education Policy 2020, which will serve as a regulatory authority to ensure quality benchmarks in schools.
The Nagaland School Quality Assessment and Assurance Framework (NSQAAF) is currently being drafted, the Chief Minister stated.
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He stressed that another key initiative being explored is the introduction of music education at the elementary level in convergence with the Department of TaFMA, which will provide students with exposure to a globally benchmarked acoustic curriculum and open new avenues for creative growth.
On the occasion, 13 teachers were presented the State Teachers’ Award, while four schools were awarded Recognition of Excellence in School Safety – SSB Phase 2.
