Kohima: Nagaland honored two teachers with the School Safety Excellence Award on Saturday. The ceremony fell on Teachers Day. The Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority, the Department of School Education, and NagaEd issued the awards. They want disaster preparedness to become a standard habit.
Nukshitemjen and Wanglem W Konyak took the honors. Nukshitemjen works as a Physical Training teacher at Government High School in Kubolong, Mokokchung. Wanglem W Konyak serves as a Primary Teacher and Scout Master at Holy Angel's School in Tizit Town, Mon. Both educators finished the Nagaland Disaster Management School Safety Policy Compliance Course. Their schools completed the first phase of this training in 2024.
Nukshitemjen earned recognition for regular awareness campaigns and hands-on disaster management demos. Wanglem W Konyak led earthquake drills across his school. He trained students on how to perform the drop, cover, and hold maneuvers. He also taught orderly evacuation, first aid, and assembly protocols.
Dr. Johnny Ruangmei, Joint CEO of the NSDMA, noted the state sits in a high-risk seismic zone. He said, "While the state formulates policies and funds training, practical preparedness depends on teachers embedding safety routines into daily school life."
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio launched the compliance program in December 2023. It matches National School Safety Guidelines from the National Disaster Management Authority. Officials shifted the focus from awarding schools to individual teachers this year. Ten schools received awards previously. Nearly 12,000 teachers have signed up for the program since it started. Phase one saw 7,567 registrations and 3,193 certifications. Phase two brought the total enrollment to nearly 12,000 with half of those teachers certified. NagaEd founder Kevisato Sanyü wants to build muscle memory through drills. Aonok Aier of NagaEd confirmed that plans for phase three are already in the works.
Comments