Photo Courtesy: nenow
Kohima: Nagaland now ranks as the third most literate state in India with a rate of 95.7 percent. Advisor for School Education Kekhrielhoulie Yhome announced the milestone on September 5 during Teachers' Day celebrations in Kohima. The state stood at just 21.95 percent literacy when it formed in 1963. It now trails only Kerala and Mizoram.
Yhome credited 32,714 educators across government and private schools for the shift. These teachers work in tough conditions across the state. He called teaching one of the "most noble professions" during the event. He noted that teachers provide care and affection to students like they do their own children.
The government plans to overhaul the school system using three pillars. First, it will tackle infrastructure gaps, including a lack of basic toilets that hinders girl students. Second, it will improve human resources through better training and tighter coordination between schools and offices. Third, it will redesign the curriculum to prepare Gen Z and Gen Alpha for global 21st-century demands.
The Department of School Education honored 12 teachers during the program. They also presented a School Safety Excellence Award. Yhome specifically highlighted R Ronald Meru from Government Higher Secondary School, Sechu Zubza, for winning a National Teachers' Award in New Delhi that same day. The state government declared September 7 a holiday for all educational institutions to honor teachers.
Updated at 5th September 2026 at 10:00pm
The 2026 state-level celebration took place at Khuochiezie, Kohima. During the event, Yhome noted that the current generation of students must be groomed to handle public and private sector leadership roles by 2035. Asangla Imti, Commissioner and Secretary for School Education and SCERT, told the crowd that a teacher's job goes beyond knowledge, forcing students to confront life's challenges and shape their own character.
R Ronald Meru was selected for the National Teachers' Award from a pool of 10.27 million teachers nationwide. Additional recognitions included the School Safety Excellence Award for Nukshitemjen from GHS Kubulong and Wanglem W Konyak from Holy Angels School, Tizit Town, as part of the state's disaster management policy.
Officials including principal director Shashank Pratap Singh and board chairperson Rangumbuing Nsarangbe attended the event. The program also included a history lesson on former President Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, noting he inaugurated Nagaland's statehood on December 1, 1963.
Updated at 6th September 2026 at 1:49pm
District-level celebrations spread across the state, with officials like Wokha Deputy Commissioner K. Mhathung Tsanglao labeling teachers the silent architects of society. In Dimapur, Food and Civil Supplies Director Warren Holohon Yepthomi pushed for a mix of traditional human connection and digital tools, warning that technology cannot replace the love and compassion of a good teacher. Meanwhile, Tseminyu Deputy Commissioner Japhet Woch reminded attendees that punctuality and classroom silence remain the bedrock of a productive learning environment.
Nagaland Disaster Management Authority and NagaEd joined the Department of School Education to award individual teachers for their work in high-risk seismic zones. Nukshitemjen of GHS Kubulong and Wanglem W Konyak of Holy Angels School, Tizit Town, earned honors for drilling students in earthquake safety. Officials noted that 12,000 teachers have signed up for the state's disaster management compliance course since late 2023, moving from theory to regular muscle memory drills.
Beyond the classroom, the Naga Students Federation pressed the government to regulate private school fees. President Mteisuding Heraang also rallied support for the organization's ongoing push to protect local rights and faith. The state government highlighted broader successes, including two gold medals won by the Nagaland Magical Singers at the World Choir Games in Auckland, citing the win as proof of the state's potential to dominate on the global stage when given the right support.
Updated at 6th September 2026 at 10:06pm
District-level events across Nagaland highlighted unique regional initiatives. In Dimapur, officials and the All Nagaland Private Schools Association honored four educators: Chandeno Ezong, Vikali Zhimomi, Paul Achumi, and Temsuienla. Food and Civil Supplies Director Warren Holohon Yepthomi linked the state's future to a teaching culture that rejects corruption and stagnation, warning that while digital tools help, they remain secondary to human connection.
Mokokchung officials hosted a felicitation for Kangabam Rajenkumar Singh, Pusumenla Pongener, Sentimenla, and Shiluyongdang. During the event, the district administration challenged schools to shift their focus from just passing exams to building better citizens. Meluri, marking its second year as a full district, honored Thozuvi Kajiri for his work preventing student dropouts and Kusi M. Yitsuthu for achieving perfect pass rates in state exams.
The Naga Students Federation continued its push for the Non Governmental Educational Institutions Regulation of Fees Act. President Mteisuding Heraang told teachers in Wokha that the union also seeks to protect indigenous rights and faith, citing recent advocacy for the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873. Meanwhile, Niuland Deputy Commissioner T.L. Kiusumong Tikhir described educators as sculptors of the next generation, while officials in Tuensang urged schools to adopt early childhood education models to build stronger foundations for students.
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