When it comes to Mizoram, a few things stand out almost immediately: one, the state’s amazing traffic sense, and two, the high literacy rate. But sometimes, statistics can often show a lot of things and hide some critical concerns. Mizoram’s overall literacy rate is high, no doubt: but while districts like Kolasib and Aizawl have literacy rates over 90%, Lawngtlai, in the same state, is not only behind other Mizoram districts, its literacy rates stands below the national average at just over 66%.
Why?
“Most of us come from families struggling to survive; unlike private schools with hostels where children can study during their free time, we lack such luxuries,” said Rinpuii*, a student from a government school in Lawngtlai District who was among those who did not pass the 2024 higher secondary school board examination.
The results of the Mizoram School Board highlight the ongoing neglect of Mizoram’s southern districts, particularly Lawngtlai. This district, along with others in the south, has historically faced significant developmental challenges, reflected starkly across various sectors.
In the 2024 HSLC exam results, an alarming list of 18 schools reported a 100% failure rate . Of these, seven schools were from Lawngtlai district, the highest number from any district. This translates to 105 out of 149 students from these schools, making up 70% of the failed.
Similar trends were observed in the previous two years. In 2023, while the overall pass percentage was 71.82%, with Aizawl district headquarters recording 82.96%, Lawngtlai district had the lowest pass percentage at 49.63%. Among the schools with a 100% failure rate, five out of fourteen were from Lawngtlai district, accounting for 38 out of 95 total failed students.
In the HSSLC 2023 district-wise result abstract, Lawngtlai had the second lowest pass percentage in the Arts Stream after Siaha, at 63.59%. In the Science Stream, despite achieving an impressive pass percentage of 84%, the district had a notably lower number of candidates with only 46 appearing for the examination, compared to neighbouring districts like Lunglei and Siaha, which had 479 and 236 candidates respectively. In the Commerce Stream, Lawngtlai secured the third-highest pass percentage.
In the 2022 results, influenced by the lockdown’s impact, HSLC pass rates were generally lower across districts. Mamit district recorded the lowest pass percentage at 53.18%, while Lawngtlai district followed closely at 59.99%. In contrast, Aizawl district achieved a pass percentage of 81.38%. Among the schools with a 100% failure rate, eight out of fifteen were from Lawngtlai district, contributing to 59 failed students out of a total of 98, which again constitutes the highest number from any district.
In the same year’s HSSLC results, Lawngtlai district had the lowest pass percentage in the Arts Stream at 72.13%, in the Science stream, it had the second lowest pass percentage at 60%, and the third highest pass percentage in the commerce stream at 65%.
In 2022, medical resources in the district were severely lacking. Despite a population of 1,17,444 according to the 2011 census, Lawngtlai had only seven medical doctors. In contrast, the Lunglei district with a population of 1,35,315 had 26 doctors, and the Champhai district with a population of 88,989 had 14 doctors.
Rinpuii* shared her experience with her teachers, noting that they were often unwilling to clarify areas where students struggled. Instead, they would question the students about their lack of awareness of certain topics. She also mentioned instances where students had to explain mathematical equations to their teachers themselves.
Testimonies from students and parents in Lawngtlai have highlighted issues plaguing the region’s education system, particularly in government-run schools.
A student, who wished to remain anonymous, revealed distressing realities about her education. She cited irregular classes, inadequate notes, and a lack of teacher commitment as major hurdles. Only 29 out of 120 students from her school managed to pass the Class XII exams in 2024.
Conversely, students attending private mission schools shared contrasting experiences. Lalrodingpuii, an 18-year-old from Chamdur Village, praised the proactive approach of Nazareth Comprehensive High School, where study camps and exam preparations are prioritised.
Parents from Vaṭhuampui Village, a remote village in Lawngtlai district shared their preference for private institutions over government schools for their children with parents expressing concerns about the latter’s quality. Even government teachers were allegedly reluctant to enrol their children in the schools where they teach.
Lalsiamengi and Malsawmkimi, parents from Vaṭhuampui village, raised concerns about the declining state of government schools. Malsawmkimi pointed out past deceptive practices, such as inflating student numbers to prevent potential closures due to low enrolment. They shared that teachers, striving to avoid closure, have resorted to misleading tactics, such as photographing random children from the community and passing them off as enrolled students during official audits.
EastMojo spoke to scholars and academics from the Lawngtlai district to understand the root causes of this neglect. A scholar from Mizoram University who spoke with EastMojo on the condition of anonymity pointed out, “Firstly, Lawngtlai district has the lowest literacy rate, even lower than the national average. Moreover, our district is a mix of various tribes, including Bru, Chakma, and Bawm, which creates significant challenges for teachers in choosing the medium of instruction. They can neither teach in Mizo nor English.”
She continued, “There is a high rate of nepotism, and the majority of government school teachers hire substitutes. These teachers, who are supposed to teach in the remote villages of Chakma and Bru areas, often engage in their businesses instead.”
She also highlighted the lack of higher-level science education, noting that science subjects are only available in private schools and that even colleges do not offer science options. “This clearly shows how backwards we are in education,” she said.
Addressing the political issues, she stated, “The two Autonomous District Councils—Lawngtlai and Chakma—manage education up to the middle school level and use schools to gather votes by assuring jobs to favoured political party members. It is their main vote bank.”
Krista Roluahpuia, an assistant professor at IIT Gandhinagar and a resident of Lawngtlai, echoed these concerns. “Lawngtlai is a large district with significant minority areas that impact overall results. The backwardness of the district, lack of qualified teachers, and poor infrastructure are major contributors to the poor educational outcomes.”
Roluahpuia suggested that a top-down approach is necessary to address these issues. “The government must show political will and provide consistent support. Additionally, NGOs and academics in Lawngtlai need to actively engage in addressing these problems to foster improvement.”
EastMojo also consulted with teachers and scholars from the region to gain insight into the low education rates.
An official from the Mizoram Chakma Students Union who was once a teacher himself, said one of the major problems is also with the students showing a general disinterest in their studies and the lack of a competitive nature among the students.
A college lecturer, speaking anonymously to EastMojo, echoed similar sentiments, observing that many students in Lawngtlai district do not prioritise their studies. Having worked in the district as an educator for over four years, she highlighted a significant factor she believes contributes to this attitude.
“The autonomy granted to them as a district council is one of the main challenges,” she explained. “Students here can secure employment easily through political and social connections, which diminishes their motivation to study hard and excel academically. Many are aware that politicians offer jobs in exchange for votes. As a result, students often aim for average grades or certificates to appeal to council members for job opportunities, rather than competing based on merit.”
She also mentioned that cheating during examinations is rampant, and strict invigilators/lecturers face questioning and complaints. “The autonomy granted to them has led to their downfall. They particularly lack interest in seeking employment elsewhere,” she added.
EastMojo reached out to Cheemala Siva Gopal Reddy, IAS, the Deputy Commissioner of Lawngtlai District, to inquire about measures being taken to address the educational crisis. He responded, “Elementary education falls under the Autonomous District Council, while higher education is managed by the District Commissioner. Upon review, we identified several issues: a lack of teachers in remote areas, inadequate training at the elementary level impacting higher education outcomes, and subpar teacher quality. Language barriers among Mizo, Chakma, and Bru teachers further complicate matters.”
Reddy emphasised the importance of functioning school monitoring committees to ensure teacher and student regularity, noting that these committees had not been holding meetings. He stated that district-level inspection teams are conducting surprise visits to schools and will take disciplinary action against those not meeting standards.
*Some names have been changed to protect the identity of the people.
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