Nagaland Plans To Close Low-Enrolment Schools, Create Composite Institutions, Recruit Maths And Science Teachers

The Nagaland government is set to restructure its government school system by closing and amalgamating low-enrolment schools, creating more composite schools and rationalising teacher deployment. The state will also undertake emergency recruitment of graduate teachers in Mathematics and Science to address shortages in key subjects.

Advisor for School Education and SCERT Dr Kekhrielhoulie Yhome announced the proposed measures while addressing the Nagaland Government Higher Secondary School Employees Association (NGHSSEA) General Conference at Rüzhükhrie Government Higher Secondary School in Kohima on August 22. The conference was held under the theme “Catalyzing Educational Transformation.” 

Yhome said the School Education Department has gathered data for the restructuring exercise and will consult teachers, communities and other stakeholders before implementing the changes. The reforms are aimed at improving enrolment, infrastructure, governance and the overall quality of government education. 

Nagaland To Close, Amalgamate Low-Enrolment Schools

The department plans to close and amalgamate some schools and convert more higher secondary schools into composite schools. Yhome said composite schools can improve enrolment by providing continuity from elementary to higher secondary education.

Nagaland currently has 57 government higher secondary schools, of which 21 are composite schools. The government plans to increase the number of such schools. In rural areas, some schools could also be downgraded depending on geographical requirements, with the school network being reshaped after consultations with stakeholders. 

Yhome also pointed to enrolment concerns at the higher secondary level. The state recorded 6,475 students across the three higher secondary streams in 2025, while enrolment this year has declined by 481 students, according to his remarks. 

Emergency Recruitment Of Maths, Science Teachers

The government also plans emergency recruitment of graduate teachers in Mathematics and Science. Yhome said shortages remain particularly acute in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, even as some other categories have surplus teachers.

The government intends to rationalise available teaching resources to address these subject-wise shortages. The recruitment issue has also been recognised by the state Cabinet, with the modalities for the recruitment to be worked out by the government. 

Yhome said the government could consider recruiting candidates from outside Nagaland if suitable teachers are not available within the state.

“If we do not have teachers, we will have no choice because our schools cannot be running on shortage of teachers,” he said.

On postgraduate teachers, Yhome said around 780 PGTs currently constitute the NGHSSEA, while 70 more PGTs are expected to join after the completion of recruitment formalities. Another 30 positions are also being added. 

Curriculum Reform, AI And Mother-Tongue Education

The state is also working on curriculum and digital education reforms. The proposed changes include greater focus on art, creativity, socio-emotional learning, STEM and digital education.

The School Education Department is working with external organisations on project-based learning, art and music initiatives and socio-emotional learning. The department is also exploring the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education.

Yhome said the government is working on strengthening Naga languages and mother-tongue instruction. The Nagaland Curriculum Framework is also nearing completion, with the department working with Nagaland University on courses for language teachers.

Teacher Attendance System To Be Integrated

The School Education Department is also strengthening its teacher attendance monitoring system. Yhome said an attendance system is already operational, while the department is working with the Information Technology Department on an integrated IT system and mobile application to maintain teachers’ attendance and leave records.

The proposed system will record different forms of leave and allow the department to monitor attendance more effectively. Yhome also said attendance data would be synchronised when internet connectivity becomes available in areas with network problems. 

The state already uses the Smart Attendance Management & Informative Leaves (SMILE) system, also known as the Teacher Attendance Monitoring System (TAMS), for government school employees. The system includes an offline attendance facility for areas with connectivity issues. 

Sanskrit Teaching In Nagaland Schools

Yhome also clarified the position on Sanskrit education in the state. Nagaland has schools affiliated with different boards, including the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE), CBSE and ICSE.

Sanskrit is not compulsory under the NBSE, which follows the state’s language policy, including compulsory mother-tongue education. Schools affiliated with CBSE and ICSE, however, have to follow the respective requirements of their boards. 

Therefore, the government’s position on Sanskrit teaching differs according to the board under which a school operates.

Teacher Promotions To Be Reviewed

On service-related issues, Yhome acknowledged concerns over stagnation among postgraduate teachers and other cadres because of promotion bottlenecks, court cases and existing service rules.

He said the department is examining promotion and career-progression issues in consultation with other government departments. Yhome also assured teachers that major reforms would not be introduced unilaterally.

“We will all work together. We are not going to take any unilateral decisions,” he said.

The proposed measures are part of the School Education Department’s broader plan to restructure Nagaland’s school ecosystem around infrastructure, governance, human-resource management and curriculum.