E-journal of All India Association for Educational Research (EJAIAER)
VOL.20 Nos: 3
& 4 September
& December, 2008
EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH IN NAGALAND - A TREND REPORT
Buno Liegise
Lungsang Zeliang
INTRODUCTION
The
16th State of the Indian Union, Nagaland is home to around sixteen tribes spread
over eleven districts. The State is still predominantly rural in nature with
82.26% of the population living in the villages. One of the smaller hill states
of
EDUCATIONAL
RESEARCH IN NAGALAND
Interestingly,
the genesis of research in this area may be traced to a Ph. D. study conducted in
1973 in the State University of New York at
The
NEHU Nagaland Campus Kohima was established in the
year 1978 and with it the Department of Education. It was only after a
prolonged gap that the next crop of research studies was produced. Three PhD
studies were done from the erstwhile NEHU Nagaland Campus, Department of
Education. Since the inception of
In
recent years, apparently there is a spike in the number of research in
education. Since 2000 there has been a record of thirteen PhD researches
conducted in the Department of Education,
This
encouraging trend of demand for research in education, coupled with the present
slogan of ‘quality education’ necessitates a survey and assessment of studies
that have been conducted. Hence the significance of the trend report on
educational research. The present study is concerned with the review of
researches done in the field of education in Nagaland state and includes
studies done in
The
prime objective of the study is to bring out a trend report which will shed
light on the kind of educational research being conducted in Nagaland, reveal
research gaps and issues, throw light on priority areas and show the much
needed direction for future research. The study will also enable researchers to
have a database of what has already been done so as to avoid unnecessary
duplications.
The
study is divided into different segments according to different stages-
research at M. A. (Education) and M. Ed.
level, research in Education at M. Phil Level, and at Doctoral level in
Education in
Trends
of Researches
An
in-depth analysis of researches done at MA Education dissertation level show
that a total of 142 dissertations have been completed under the Department of
Education, Nagaland University since its inception in 1978. It may be mentioned
that it was under NEHU at its inception till 1994. On further scrutiny it was
found that researches were done in about 26 areas of study. Following data give
a clear and immediate picture of the number of research done in each of the
areas.
Categorization
of Research at MA Education level in
1.
Teachers and Teacher Education -21(14.79%)
2.
History and Development of Education -15(10.56%)
3. Socio Cultural Studies-11 (7.75%)
4. Psychological Studies -10 (7.04%)
5.
Management/Administration -09 (6.34%)
6.
Curriculum and Syllabus -08 (5.63%)
7.
Wastage and Stagnation -08 (5.63%)
8.
Women Studies-08 (5.63%)
9. Primary
Education - 06 (4.23%)
10.
Comparative Studies -06 (4.23%)
11.
Guidance and Counseling-05 (3.52%)
12.
Moral and Value Education-05 (3.52%)
13.
Secondary Education - 05 (3.52%)
14.
Computer Education - 04 (2.82%)
15.
Higher Education-04 (2.82%)
16.
Adult Education- 03 (2.11%)
17. Pre school Education- 02 (1.41%)
19.
Girl’s Education-02(1.41%)
20.
Special Education -02 (1.41%)
21.
Extra-Curricular/Co curricular Studies-02 (1.41%)
22.
Educational Philosophy-01 (0.70%)
23.
Distance Education-01 (0.70%)
24.
Sex Education-01 (0.70%)
25.
Health Education-01 (0.70%)
26.
Higher Secondary Education- 01 (0.70%)
18.
Elementary Education- 01 (0.70%)
Total -14299.98 %
At
the MA Education level, the area that received the most attention was in the
area of teachers’ problem and their education. This shows that research
priority is in track because for any improvement in the quality of teaching,
and of education in general, the quality of teaching must improve and teachers
problems and needs examined. The Table also reveals that the next area that got
a lot of interest was in the field of educational development and history of
education in Nagaland, which accounted for 10.56 % of research at MA Education
level. This area covers the indigenous type of education and also the
contribution of early Christian missionaries and their impact on education.
M.
Ed. course is not available in
A noteworthy development in research is the
recent introduction of the Masters of Philosophy Program, included in the
discipline of education, in
Ph.
D.
This
segment is divided into two, educational research at Ph.D level in Education
conducted under
The
number of Ph. D.s in Education Department, Nagaland
Campus, NEHU was 3
The
number of Ph. D. s in
Education Department,
The
number of Ph. D.s in Education on areas related to
Nagaland conducted in other universities
was 10.
Thematic
Arrangement of PhD Research in Education in Nagaland was as follows:
Test
Construction: 2;
Teacher
& Teacher Education: 2;
Development
Studies: 2;
Special
Education Studies: 5;
Environmental
Education Studies: 2;
Socio
Cultural Studies: 6;
Science
Education: 1;
Status
Studies at Primary School Stage: 3;
Psychological
Studies: 4
Categorisation of at PhD education research in Nagaland in
terms of number and percentage
1.
Special education studies - 05(17.86%)
2.
Socio cultural studies-06 (21.43%)
3.
Test construction - 02 (07.14%)
4.
Environmental education studies-02 (07.14%)
5.
Status studies- 03 (10.71%)
6.
Psychological studies-04 (14. 29%)
7.
Teacher & teacher education-02 (07.14%)
8.
Historical/development studies- 02 (07.14%)
9.
Science education -01(03.57%)
10.
Higher education: proposal-01 (03.57 %)
Total:
28(99.99%)
Out
of 28 Ph D researches, in total the figures reveal that the socio cultural studies
received the highest research priority with the theme getting 21.43%. Next in
line was the area on special education with 17.86% of the Ph D studies,
followed by psychological studies 14.29%, status studies at the primary school
stage 10.71 %. There were 7.14% studies conducted in test construction, which
is to be encouraged. Historical studies, environmental studies and teacher
education studies each comprised of 7.14% of the Ph D studies. While science
education and innovative proposal for higher education received a meagre 3.57% each, the much neglected areas of study to say
the least.
Overall
it may be noted that most of the studies were descriptive in nature, employing
basic statistical techniques. A few of the studies suffered from typographical
and grammatical errors, underutilisation of data and
information collected that reduced the standard of the studies. Hopefully
future researchers will take cognizance of these lapses.
In
light of the above it may be said that more experimental researches need to be
encouraged. Use of higher statistical techniques in analysing
data will enrich analysis of findings. Researches need to be conducted in more un trodden areas. Policy research, reforms in education,
innovations in education, research in emerging areas of concern like education
in HIV/AIDS and Human Rights, women empowerment, quality perspectives in
education, vocationalisation of education, science
education, education and ICTs are some areas which
need more attention.
For
millions in the rural areas of Nagaland, the twin problems of illiteracy and
poverty are still coming into the way of providing quality education to
children particularly in the case of the girl child. Fundamental issues of enrolment, retention
and access to elementary education, delivery system of early childhood care and
education and other centrally sponsored schemes remain to be systematically
examined. The relevance and role of their history, culture and tradition vis a vis
the present system of education and global challenges need to studied and
intervention programs formulated and effectively implemented.
Number
of research projects conducted by Government of Nagaland Departments/ Other
Institutions is as follows:
Government
of Nagaland: Research Reports: 3
Research
projects conducted in
Research
Projects conducted by SCERT/ DIETs
The
State Council for Educational Research and Training and within it, the District
Institutes of Education and Training recorded a total of over 30 action-
research projects, which are as follows:
1.
School Curriculum -09 (28.13%)
2.
Documentation-08 (25.00%)
3.
Health problems- 05 (15.63% )
4.
Dropout, wastage & stagnation- 03 (09.38%)
5.
Communication skill-02 (06.25%)
6.
Evaluation - 02 (06.25%
7.
Teacher status & competence -02 ( 06.25%)
8. Communitisation -01 ( 03.13%)
Total 32 (100%)
Research
Projects by Non-Governmental Organization
The
emergence of private players in the field of research in education is an
encouraging trend. For instance, established in the year
2006, the Youth Action for Rural Development (YARD), which has as its goal to
promote comprehensive and sustainable development of resources with the
communities, has recently ventured into educational research.
Besides,
a National NGO called Pratham Education Foundation
that works with and for underprivileged children has been involved in quality
improvement program of primary schools in partnership with the School Education
Department. In the process the NGO has been engaged in educational
investigations in Nagaland
- e g the annual status of
educational report - ASER Nagaland 2007.
CONCLUSION
Altogether
28 Ph. D. researches in the discipline of education have been identified. Out
of which 18 studies were done in the Department of Education (three studies in
the erstwhile NEHU Nagaland Campus Kohima and fifteen
under
In
this day and age, a society that desires to register progress and development
must make investment in research. There must be a resolve to push for
educational research by the Directorate of Higher Education and Directorate of
School Education, Government of Nagaland, the SCERT and