Kohima, October 9: Nagaland Explores Global Partnerships to Strengthen School Education
The Department of School Education, Nagaland, is exploring collaborations with international and domestic philanthropic organisations and corporate leaders to strengthen the state’s school education system, with a focus on digital infrastructure, teacher development, vocational education and future-ready skills.
The initiative was discussed during a press conference held at Hotel Vivor, Kohima, on October 9, attended by a delegation from Germany and corporate leaders, philanthropists and businessmen from Mumbai.
The press conference was addressed by Kekhrielhoulie Yhome, Dr. Martin Kasper, President of Childaid Network Foundation, and Nikunj Jhaveri, Founder and Chief Impact Officer.
Yhome said the delegation had been in Nagaland since October 5, engaging in discussions with the department and gaining exposure to the state’s school education ecosystem. He said the interactions covered a wide range of issues, from supporting children with disabilities in classrooms to public financing of schools and blended finance models.
He said the proposed collaborations would focus on introducing digital infrastructure in classrooms, strengthening early childhood care and education, promoting vocational education, improving teaching practices and developing skills to prepare students for the challenges of the 21st century.
Yhome expressed hope that the discussions would lead to several high-level interventions in schools over the next few years. He also highlighted the importance of partnerships in strengthening the state’s capabilities and creating opportunities for young people, including exposure and employment opportunities in Germany.
Nikunj Jhaveri said his first visit to Nagaland had left a strong impression, particularly the enthusiasm of students, teachers and people working within the education system.
He said the partnership would take a long-term approach, focusing not only on financial support but also on connecting Nagaland with corporate networks, industries and other organisations that could contribute to the state’s development.
Jhaveri said the initiative would work with organisations including Elevate, Mantra for Change and ShikshaLokam to support different aspects of educational development. He added that the collaboration would seek to encourage greater corporate interest in Nagaland and build partnerships between industry and the government.
Dr. Martin Kasper said Childaid Network Foundation had maintained a connection with the Northeast for nearly two decades, drawn by the region’s natural wealth, the spirit of its people and the potential of its young population.
He said the foundation currently had around 1,500 project locations across the Northeast and that the recent visit was aimed at exploring ways to help Naga children access quality education and better opportunities for the future.
Kasper emphasised that the objective was to strengthen existing government education systems rather than create parallel structures.
He said the foundation intended to work closely with the state government and other partners, contributing funding, knowledge-sharing, networking and monitoring support.
He said Childaid Network spends approximately two to three million euros annually on education, with its current focus increasingly directed towards improving teaching quality and learning outcomes in government schools.
Highlighting the need to move beyond rote learning, Kasper cited project-based learning as one approach that could make classrooms more engaging and help students develop a deeper understanding of what they learn.
The delegation also outlined a joint approach involving Childaid Network and Rotary, combining international and domestic philanthropy with the expertise of education-focused organisations. The partnership aims to build on experiences gained from education initiatives in other Indian states while adapting interventions to the needs of Nagaland.
Kasper said philanthropic funding could help test innovative approaches, while the government could subsequently expand successful interventions through its own systems and resources.
The discussions are expected to pave the way for further collaboration aimed at improving educational quality, strengthening institutional capacity and preparing Nagaland’s children for future opportunities.
