Kohima: Mughavi Awomi wants the state to hit the brakes. The former Western Sumi Youth Front president challenged the government on its plan to merge and shutter rural schools. Officials claim the restructuring aims to lift education standards. Awomi says look at the facts on the ground first.
Rural classrooms are failing. Most suffer from crumbling infrastructure, zero basic facilities, and a deep shortage of subject teachers. These gaps ruin student performance. Awomi argued that the state cannot fairly judge school success while refusing to fund the basics. He claimed rationalization often strips rural schools of existing staff and sanctioned posts, leaving them hollow.
The state needs a new strategy. Awomi pushed for a plan that prioritizes equipment and permanent staffing over immediate closures. He proposed a monitoring system to track school progress after the government provides the necessary resources. He insisted that schools need a grace period to recover. "Only after such a period of genuine support and objective assessment should the question of merger or closure be considered, and only as a last resort where a school is demonstrably unable to sustain itself," Awomi stated.
He wants policymakers to consider the geography of the region. Policies must account for accessibility and the socio-economic status of families. Every child deserves a fair shot at learning. He demanded the government adopt a balanced, inclusive approach that protects the long-term future of students living in remote areas.
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